I. INTRODUCTIONa123.g.akamai.net/.../nepa/91485_FSPLT3_2067683.pdf · I. INTRODUCTION . This Biological Assessment (BA) reviews the North Elk Ridge Forest Health project to determine

North Elk Ridge Forest Health Biological Assessment 2

I. INTRODUCTION

This Biological Assessment (BA) reviews the North Elk Ridge Forest Health project to determine the proposed action’s potential effects on threatened, endangered and candidate wildlife and plant species. The Purpose and Need of the proposed action is to:

• Increase resistance of ponderosa pine and aspen vegetation in the North Elk Ridge landscape and associated watersheds to climate-related stressors (drought, wildfire, insects, and disease) by: a) encouraging a mosaic of vegetative conditions (species, age, and density); b) initial restoration of fire occurrence to historic intervals, intensity, and severity; and c) promoting improved health of forest stands through silvicultural treatments (thinning and prescribed burning).

• Promote and maintain aspen stands and small clones within the larger ponderosa pine community

• Improve the productivity and diversity of wildlife habitat • Protect watershed values by promoting a mosaic of vegetation ages, structures and

species to buffer against large-scale fire, epidemics and other disturbances • Reduce the risk of stand-replacing fire and risk to life (fire fighters, recreationists, and

permittees) and property in this area. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (PL 93-205, as amended) requires federal agencies to ensure that any activities they authorize, fund, or carry out, do not jeopardize the continued existence of any wildlife species federally listed, or a candidate for listing, as threatened or endangered. Consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is required if threatened or endangered (T&E) species or their critical habitat may be affected by proposed actions. The Biological Assessment document is prepared in accordance with legal requirements set forth under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1536 (c)), and follows standards established in the Forest Service Manual (FSM 2671.4 and 2672.4).

A. Summary of the Proposed Action Within the project area (about 17,750 acres) (see Maps 1 & 2) located on North Elk Ridge on the Monticello District of the Manti-La Sal National Forest, implement aspen regeneration/restoration treatments, and understory thinning and prescribed fire treatments in ponderosa pine and select aspen stands to improve forest health and resilience, reduce Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) 3 and 2 to FRCC 1, maintain historic disturbance intervals in the dominant ponderosa pine areas, and reduce the associated risk to forest resources, life and property. There are 4 types of treatment proposed:

• prescribed burning of aspen/mixed conifer slopes - 5200 acres (helitorch-aerial ignition) • aspen restoration (cutting and/or prescribed burning plus fencing or other protection) –

200-230 acres on mesa top • ponderosa pine thinning – 1900 acres • prescribed burning in ponderosa pine – 7585 acres, includes thinned ponderosa pine

acres (hand ignition)


Aspen restoration treatments would be implemented utilizing chainsaws or mechanized equipment to fell aspen and conifers within the clone, and by prescribed burning to stimulate suckering of declining aspen stands. Some aspen restoration areas would require fencing or other means for protection from ungulate grazing.

In ponderosa pine stands on the mesa top, thinning of trees ≤8” in diameter (understory trees) would be accomplished utilizing chainsaws; followed by prescribed burning of ponderosa pine litter and associated surface and ladder fuels. Thinning and burning of these stands will reduce down woody fuels and will create or maintain more open, park-like forest structures with reduced susceptibility to the occurrence of stand-replacing fire and bark beetle infestation. This means that the post-treatment trees would be less dense (less continuity between tree tops or crowns), with fewer low branches, and with fewer sapling and pole size trees or shrubs capable of carrying fire into the tops of trees and sustaining crown fire. Details of the proposed action and associated design features are in the Appendix, page 22.

B. Project Area Description: The North Elk Ridge project area is an area of about 17,750 acres, located 17 air miles northwest of Blanding, Utah. Location is T34S, R19/20E and T35S, R19/20E, SLM. The area includes the Cottonwood Creek HUC 6 watershed; draining into the San Juan River and the Poison Canyon, Horse Pasture, Dark Canyon and Stevens Canyon HUC 6 watersheds; draining into the Colorado River. As described in the Manti-La Sal National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (1986 as amended), the management direction for lands in the project area: 12,022 acres of TBR (Wood Fiber Production and Implementation), 5592 acres of RNG (Range Forage Production), 30 acres GWR (General Winter Range), 22 acres WPE (Watershed Protection and Improvement) and 55 acres of SLD (Gooseberry Guard Station administrative site) Special Areas (Roadless, Wilderness, RNA, Administrative): Dark- Woodenshoe Canyon IRA about 3880 acres, Hammond-Notch Canyon IRA about 90 acres. Dark Canyon Wilderness is adjacent to the west boundary of the project area. Vegetation in the project area (Table 1, Map 3) is mainly ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forest on the mesa top, with scattered remnant aspen (Populus tremuloides) clones which are the focus of the proposed mechanical aspen restoration treatments and fencing. The ponderosa pine understory is dominated by mountain snowberry (Symphoricarpos oreophilus) and perennial grasses. All of the ponderosa pine stands have been previously harvested for timber. Gambel’s oak (Quercus gambelii) is a common vegetation type. The slopes and lower benches from the rim of the mesa down to the steep rocky canyons have aspen/mixed conifer with areas of mountain brush. Trees in the mixed conifer type are Douglas-fir (Psedotsuga menziesii), white fir (Abies concolor) and ponderosa pine. On the lower benches there is also pinyon pine (Pinus edulis) and Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma).


Table 1. Vegetation in the North Elk Ridge project area.

Vegetation type acres Ponderosa pine 7865 Oakbrush 3780 Aspen and aspen/mixed conifer 1710 Pinyon-juniper 1495 Mixed conifer 995 Mountain brush 825 Other (manzanita, sagebrush, meadow, barren/rock) 1050

Riparian 30 TOTAL 17750

Ponderosa pine forest in the project area


1. Threatened and Endangered (T&E) Wildlife and Fish Species Table 2 lists wildlife and fish species designated as threatened, endangered or candidate species by the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) that could occur in San Juan County, Utah. T&E species that do not occur or have suitable habitat in or near the proposed project area are identified in Table 2 and will not be considered in detail in this Biological Assessment.

Table 2. Listed wildlife and fish species that could occur in San Juan County, UT (USFWS 2012a), their potential occurrence in the project area and consideration in this Biological Assessment.

SPECIES

SPECIESSTATUS

SPECIES OCCURRENCE IN THE PROJECT AREA AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS BA

Mexican spotted owl (MSO) Strix occidentalis lucida

Threatened

Considered. Mexican spotted owls and designated critical habitat occur in canyon habitat in the North Elk Ridge area.

Southwestern willow flycatcher Empidonax traillii extimus

Endangered

Considered. The southwestern willow flycatcher is a riparian obligate species, nesting in dense clumps of willow or shrubs with similar structure (alder, some tamarisk) along low-gradient streams, wetlands, beaver ponds, wet meadows and rivers. There are no perennial streams in the project area, and limited potential or suitable riparian habitat.

California condor Gymnogyps californianus

Endangered - Nonessential experimental

population

Considered. May occur incidentally in or near the project area. The project area is 130 miles from the release site, and nesting has not occurred in Utah. The project area is within the designated experimental population area (USFWS 1996).

Black-footed ferret Mustela nigripes

Endangered (historical range)

Not Considered. The black-footed ferret depends exclusively on prairie dog colonies for food and shelter. There is no occupied prairie dog habitat in the project area.

Bonytail Gila elegans Endangered

Not Considered. Historically, bonytails existed throughout the larger channels of the Colorado River drainage. Bonytails do not occur on the Manti-La Sal National Forest (MLNF), but are present in drainages that receive water originating on the MLNF. The project area is located more than 25 miles from the Colorado and San Juan Rivers. The proposed action will not adversely affect the quantity or quality of water in these drainages.

Humpback chub Gila cypha Endangered

Not Considered. The humpback chub once ranged throughout the whitewater canyons of the Colorado River basin. Presently, the species can be located in and above the Grand Canyon (Arizona) and in major tributaries to the Colorado River. The humpback chub does not occur on the MLNF, but it is present in drainages that receive water originating on the MLNF. The proposed action will not adversely affect the quantity or quality of water in these drainages.


Colorado pikeminnow Ptychocheilus lucius

Endangered

Not Considered. The Colorado pikeminnow had a historic range from the Green River in Wyoming to the Gulf of California, but the species is now confined to the upper Colorado River Basin mainstem and larger tributaries. Colorado pikeminnow do not occur on the MLNF, but they are present in drainages that receive water originating on the MLNF. The proposed action will not adversely affect the quantity or quality of water in these drainages.

Razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus

Endangered

Not Considered. Historic distribution of the razorback sucker was throughout the large river portions of the Colorado River and its major tributaries. It presently occurs in only a portion of the former range in these rivers. Razorback suckers have never been reported from headwater streams, and do not occur on the MLNF. They are present in drainages that receive water originating on the MLNF. The proposed action will not adversely affect the quantity or quality of water in these drainages.

Greenback cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii stomias

Threatened

Not Considered. This native trout species is known to occur in only one isolated stream on the La Sal Mountains, and does not occur in drainages within or connected to the project area.

Western yellow-billed cuckoo Coccyzus americanus occidentalis

Candidate

Not Considered. This neotropical migrant requires dense, deciduous riparian woodlands for breeding, generally in tall, old-growth cottonwoods and willows in at least 25 acre patches. There is limited cottonwood habitat along the drainages in the project area, and no large areas suitable for cuckoos. Surveys by Utah DWR on NFS lands in South Cottonwood Canyon have not identified occupied or suitable habitat.

Gunnison sage-grouse Centrocercus minimus

Candidate (Proposed for listing on 1/11/2013)

Not Considered. The project area is outside the current range of the species, and the nearest population is 30 miles away. Their known historic habitat consisted of sagebrush communities below 6000 feet elevation in Grand and San Juan counties in Utah. There is no suitable sagebrush habitat within the project area.


2. Threatened and Endangered Plant Species There is one plant listed for San Juan County, Utah (Table 3). The plant is not known to occur on the Manti-La Sal National Forest. Habitat descriptions and distributions were obtained from Welsh et al. (1993), Atwood et al. (1991) and the 1985 listing (USFWS 1985). Habitat presence in the project area was determined through field visits and review of soils, elevations and plant community composition within the project area. Listed plants or their habitats were not detected in the project area during field reviews, nor are they expected to occur. Table 3. Federally listed plants that could occur in San Juan County, UT (USFWS 2012a) and site-specific occurrence of their habitat within the North Elk Ridge project area.

SPECIES

STATUS

HABITAT DESCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION IN

SAN JUAN COUNTY

HABITAT PRESENT

IN PROJECT

AREA?

Navajo sedge Carex specuicola Threatened

This sedge grows in seeps and springs on vertical cliffs of Navajo sandstone at elevations between 5,000 and 5,900 feet. Critical habitat is on the Navajo reservation. No known populations exist on the Moab-Monticello Ranger District.

No

One plant in San Juan County, Isely’s milkvetch (Astragalus iselyi), has been petitioned for listing. It occurs only on the La Sal Mountains in San Juan County, not in the project area.


II. T&E SPECIES DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSIS OF EFFECTS A brief description of the life history and habitat needs for each species considered is followed by specific information about the species on the Manti-La Sal National Forest. The effects analysis is based on existing conditions within the project area. The analysis discloses the potential direct and indirect effects of the proposed action on North Elk Ridge and associated action area on threatened, endangered and candidate species and their habitat, and the expected cumulative effects that could potentially accrue to these species if project activities add to other past, present or reasonably foreseeable future non-federal actions. The action area considered in the analysis includes NFS lands within the project area boundaries and downstream in South Cottonwood Canyon and Poison Canyon (Map 4). The past and current activities that define the existing conditions in the project area include:

• Dead Goose timber sale [2000 acre timber harvest (1997) and prescribed burn (2005)] • Chimney Park area prescribed burn (2000, 2011-12) • Duck Lake wildland fire use (2009) • Noxious weed control program (ongoing) • permitted livestock grazing (ongoing on portions of the project area)

The main effects of past actions on wildlife habitat in the action area are from past timber management resulting in second-growth ponderosa pine forests, past range vegetation treatment leading to the current predominance of introduced herbaceous species, fire suppression-induced changes to vegetative composition and structure and historic livestock grazing. The more recent vegetation projects listed above have taken wildlife habitat needs, from early seral habitat to mature forest, into consideration and also include prescribed and unplanned fires to reintroduce a historic fire regime. Some activities may have beneficial impacts, such as noxious weed control and well-designed vegetation treatments. The non-federal action in the action area that may add incrementally to impacts of the proposed action is dispersed recreation and public use of NFS lands for camping, hunting, hiking, use of ATVs and other outdoor activities. Recreation activities may disturb wildlife behavior, causing alarm, avoidance or displacement but do generally not have sub-lethal effects such as reduced feeding success or reduced fecundity. Visitor numbers are not controlled except for permitted events and outfitter/guides, but access is managed with designed roads and trails. General effects of the proposed action related to wildlife habitat in the ponderosa pine treatment units include:

• overstory tree canopy retained, reduction of density in mid- and understory • sprouting/regrowth of understory shrubs and herbaceous vegetation • temporary reduction in understory cover • in thinning units, addition of down woody debris in the form of small logs

In the aspen regeneration units, prescribed fire will result in: • loss of heavy conifer cover on up to 700 acres • creation of snags and down logs • regeneration of productive, seral aspen forest


Mexican Spotted Owl The Mexican spotted owl (MSO) currently occupies a broad geographic area, but does not occur uniformly throughout its range. Across most of the southwest, it is found in mature, mixed conifer forests with dense, uneven-aged stands. However, breeding owls in southern Utah utilize deep, steep-walled canyons with mature coniferous or deciduous trees. Spotted owls are relatively intolerant of high temperatures and roost and nest in shady forests or in the cracks of narrow, complex canyons. These large owls forage primarily on canyon floors and benches, and occasionally on the surrounding mesa tops. The owls eat a variety of rodents, bats and birds, but their primary prey is woodrats (Neotoma sp). Individual owls may winter in their territories or migrate up to 50 km, generally to lower elevation, open habitats, often pinyon-juniper woodland or mountain shrub habitat types (Willey 1993). The MSO was federally listed in 1993. A Recovery Plan for the Mexican Spotted Owl was completed in December 1995 (USFWS) and revised in a September 2012 edition. Critical habitat for the MSO has been designated (last modified in August 2004). This designation includes the western half of the Monticello portion of the district. Most habitat deemed appropriate for the Mexican Spotted Owl was surveyed on the Moab/Monticello Ranger District (1990-1993). To date, all nests located have been within steep-walled canyon habitats. Several Protected Activity Centers (PACs) have been designated on Elk Ridge and surrounding canyon country. Monitoring of these PACs in 2003-2006 documented the presence of owls in all established PACs on the Monticello district (MLNF 2009a). A PAC was recently designated in Notch Canyon, where breeding was confirmed by the presence of an adult pair with 2 fledglings on August 1, 2011. The project area contains designated critical habitat (see Map 5) and protected and restricted habitats as described in the original Recovery Plan (USFWS 1995a). Canyon habitat that matches the primary constituent elements (physical and biological features necessary for the species’ survival) generally forms the project area boundary on the south and west sides of the project area. There are 3 established PACs along the project area boundary in Dark Canyon and Notch Canyon. No owls have been found in the heavily forested upper portions of tributary canyons to Dark Canyon (Poison Canyon, Deadman Canyon), but these areas have not been comprehensively surveyed since the early 1990’s. South Cottonwood Canyon itself does not appear to have suitable breeding/roosting habitat, but the Hammond and Notch Canyon tributaries which cut back into Elk Ridge and the underlying Cedar Mesa sandstone are characteristic canyon habitat (see Figures1-4). South Cottonwood Canyon is wide and open, with high cliffs on the west-facing aspect shown as habitat in the 1997 model (Map 6). The canyon is greater than 2 km wide, and the cliffs are exposed and hot (Fig 5 and 6). An unnamed west fork of South Cottonwood Canyon within the project area does not have the extensive cliffs found in other MSO habitat, but there are steep mixed conifer slopes and the canyon is just over 2 km in length. Of the 8590 acres of critical habitat within the project area, most is oak/mountain brush (3587 acres), ponderosa pine (1839 acres), pinyon-juniper (1078 acres), mixed conifer (906 acres) and aspen types (599 acres). Modeled habitat (Willey-Spotskey 1997 and 2000 models) is concentrated in the canyons outside the project area boundary, but the models do show some potential habitat within the treatment units on the Poison Canyon side and in the west fork of South Cottonwood Canyon (Map 6). These areas are above the rocky cliffs of the inner canyon, and have steep conifer slopes, although many also have an aspen component. Detail of the overlap with the 2000 breeding/roosting habitat model and the aspen treatment units is shown on Maps 7 and 8. In the


Poison Canyon area, there is modeled habitat mostly along the treatment unit boundary. In the Cottonwood unit, there are scattered pixels of modeled breeding/roosting habitat in the middle of the unit. The imagery in Maps 9-11 compares the habitat features between occupied MSO habitat and the proposed aspen/mixed conifer prescribed burn treatment unit in the west fork of South Cottonwood Canyon. The west fork canyon does not have the extent and complexity of rocky cliffs as known occupied habitat, but cannot be omitted as it does have other habitat components. There is no modeled habitat on the mesa tops or in the ponderosa pine prescribed burning unit. The ponderosa pine forest on the mesa tops in the project area meets the Recovery Plan definition of ponderosa pine forest, not the pine-oak type (USFWS 2012b). The mixed conifer forest proposed for prescribed fire treatment is mixed with aspen, which often comprises greater than 50%, and is therefore defined in the Recovery Plan as the quaking aspen forest type. The mixed conifer and aspen/mixed conifer types are intermingled on the slopes. Areas with little to no aspen will not be targeted during prescribed burning operations. Areas meeting the Recovery Plan definition of riparian forest would likewise be buffered during burning operations. Cedar Mesa sandstone cliffs like those occupied by owls in Hammond, Notch and Dark Canyons (see maps 9 and 11) were avoided by project design. The lower slopes of these canyons and the core areas of the PACs are more than ½ mile from proposed treatment units, which focus on the benches, upper slopes and mesa tops. Owl activity appears to be concentrated around roost sites in the canyons, including foraging activity on the benches, but they also utilize the canyon bottoms and occasionally areas above the canyon rim (Willey 1993). The pinyon-juniper vegetation type is most commonly used by owls for foraging in the canyons. A study in northern Arizona reported the predominant MSO prey species are the Mexican woodrat (Neotoma mexicana) with the most biomass, and 3 species of white-footed mouse (Peromyscus spp.) with the highest frequency of use (Block et al. 2005). A corresponding distribution of prey species was found in occupied MSO habitat on the Monticello district (Sureda and Morrison 1998). The Mexican woodrat is associated with rocky, mixed conifer slopes and the pinyon mouse (P. truei) occurs in conjunction with pinyon on cliffs and rocky slopes. While their rocky habitat provides some protection from direct fire effects, responses are variable and depend largely on site conditions prior to the fire and response of the herbaceous and shrub understory after the fire. It is generally concluded that while understory production is less in the first year following fire, by the third season post-fire, production and cover have increased over unburned areas (Bartuszevige and Kennedy 2009). Generalist species, such as deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) increase after disturbance/fire in many situations (Kennedy and Fontaine 2009). The action area considered for the proposed action includes the project area, adjacent canyons and downstream in Dark and South Cottonwood Canyons (Map 4). While there are no perennial streams and very limited open water, wetlands or riparian areas in the project area, the majority of springs/riparian habitat examined in the project area were found to be in a properly-functioning condition (MLNF 2009b).


Figure 1. Overview of MSO habitat in Hammond Canyon.

Figure 2. Occupied MSO habitat in the Cedar Mesa formation in Hammond Canyon.

Figure 3. Typical habitat in the Notch Canyon PAC.

Figure 4. Dark Canyon PAC from Deadman Point.

Figure 5. Upper South Cottonwood Canyon on NFS lands.

Figure 6. South Cottonwood Canyon near lower Forest boundary, included in 1997 habitat model.


Effects Analysis: Landscape-scale, stand-replacing wildfire is considered a primary threat to MSO and their forested habitat (USFWS 2012b). A main objective of the proposed project is to improve the resistance and resilience of the forest to fire and other disturbance agents over a large area of Elk Ridge. Under the proposed prescription in the ponderosa pine type, there would be low-moderate intensity fire and the mature forest structure would be maintained/enhanced. Treatments in the mesa-top ponderosa pine forest do not directly affect MSO recovery habitat. The proposed treatments would result in a mosaic of stand conditions in age and forest structure in aspen/mixed conifer forest, creating areas for aspen regeneration while retaining areas with mature mixedconifer. The treatment objective is 40-80% mortality across the treatment unit with moderate-severe fire. Under wildfire conditions, a higher percentage of mortality with more severe fire over a larger area is expected. High severity fire is necessary in the mixed conifer type to regenerate aspen, but the aerial ignition burn would result in a mosaic of burned and unburned areas, targeting areas of seral aspen encroached by conifer. There are also 400 acres of mixed conifer habitat in critical habitat in the project area but outside the treatment units which would not be affected. Within the project area, there are 8590 acres of designated critical habitat (Table 4); treatment is proposed on 51%. In the aspen prescribed burn units, there are approximately 500 acres of mixed conifer and 200 acres of aspen/mixed conifer. Therefore, treatment could alter up to 700 acres of mature conifer habitat. The rest of the prescribed burn unit is oak and mountain brush, ponderosa pine and some pinyon-juniper, all mixed together depending on aspect. Table 4. Treatment acres in the 17,750 project area within MSO habitat.

MSO critical habitat* acres MSO PAC acres

Project area Aspen Rx PIPO Rx mechanical Project area Aspen

Rx PIPO Rx mechanical

8590 4336 61 12 33 11 0 0 *designated Critical Habitat identified as Protected or Restricted habitat The treatment would move the fire-adapted forests towards a more historic fire return interval [30 to 50 years for low and mixed severity (surface) fires and from 35 to 75 years for severe (stand replacing) fires] and a properly-functioning age class structure (Table 5) on a landscape scale. Currently, these forests have high percentages of mature forest, but lack the younger age classes to provide higher productivity and resilience to disturbance. Within critical habitat, the existing mosaic of vegetation types, proposed mixed severity burning and retention of undisturbed areas would lead to a balanced forest structure in the project area.


Table 5. Current and properly-functioning condition (PFC) for seral aspen and mixed conifer forests (MLNF 1998).

Structural stage Seral aspen Mixed conifer

Current conditions PFC Current

conditions PFC

Grass/Forb 0% 10% Seedling/Sapling 5% 0% 10% 40% Young Forest 15% 5% 20% 40% Mid Aged Forest 10% 25% Mature Forest 80% 80% 25% 20% Old Forest 5% 10%

Direct effects from the proposed action are lessened due to the rocky cliff habitat used by MSO for nesting/roosting which would not be treated. To eliminate potential adverse effects, the following design criteria will be incorporated into the proposed action. In critical habitat, ponderosa pine thinning (hand cutting of tree <8” DBH) will be accomplished outside the breeding season (March 1-August 31). Prescribed burning activities in the Deadman/Poison Canyon unit would be conducted in the fall, outside the breeding season. The western portion of the unit which overlaps with the Dark Canyon PAC and modeled breeding/roosting habitat (50 acres) would not be included in the area to be ignited. In the South Cottonwood unit, ponderosa pine thinning would proceed as proposed as it does not affect critical habitat or modeled habitat, but the prescribed burning unit would be surveyed to protocol before any treatment. Depending on the survey results, the unit would be dropped or modified as needed, or if no owls are detected, prescribed burning would proceed without a seasonal restriction. The South Cottonwood unit does not have as straight-forward a burn plan as the Deadman/Poison unit. The South Cottonwood unit may need to be burned in the spring in order to meet prescription and the desired outcomes regarding fire severity and overstory tree mortality. The 2012 Recovery Plan advocates taking steps now to alter the increasing rate of landscape-scale high-severity fire effects through fuels reduction and treatments strategically placed to slow/reduce future high-severity fire. MSO nest/roost habitat in rocky canyons in the Colorado Plateau unit is less susceptible to alteration by fire than forested habitat in other areas. While fire effects to MSO use of breeding territories is not well-documented, research summarized in the 2012 Recovery Plan seems to indicate that in general owls will continue to occupy and reproduce in burned areas unless a large percentage of the territory is burned. With favored nest/roost habitat down in the rocky canyons, only foraging habitat would be directly affected by the proposed prescribed fire. Research cited in the 2012 Recovery Plan regarding prey habitat advocates managing for a diversity of vegetative conditions in recovery habitat. Specific management recommendations in Appendix C of the Recovery Plan include disturbance events leading to forest canopy gaps, especially in mixed-conifer stands. Desired conditions include heterogeneous patch size, tree species composition and a vigorous, native understory. The proposed project meets these objectives. The desired future conditions proposed for the project area include reduced fire risk through reintroduction of more historic fire regimes/fuel loads (condition class 1), a diversity of vegetation age classes and structures, maintenance of satisfactory watershed condition and protection of soil and water productivity through the design and implementation of the treatments. These conditions meet the Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service 1986) direction to manage habitat to provide for the recovery of threatened/endangered species (III-21) and provide habitat for viable populations of native fish and wildlife (III-3, III-22, III-70).


Non-federal actions in the action area are largely related to dispersed recreation, including camping, hiking, hunting and motorized use on roads and trails. Due to the terrain, these activities are confined mostly to existing road corridors and trails in the Dark Canyon Wilderness. Recreationists would generally avoid burned areas for several years post-treatment. As the treatments would not directly affect nesting/roosting habitat in the canyons where recreational use is highest, there would be no spatial overlap and no cumulative effects. The determination for the proposed action is May Effect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect Mexican spotted owl or designated critical habitat. The potential effects to spotted owls, their prey and breeding/roosting habitat is minimized by the ecology of MSO and their predominant prey species, location of occupied habitat outside the treatment units, naturalness of treatments, and the design features specified above and in the Determination of Effects (pg 17).

Woodenshoe wildfire (burned July 2003 – 2700 acres)

adjacent to Cherry Canyon PAC photo date – 21 April 2006 during MSO survey when 1 adult responded within the burned area


Southwestern Willow Flycatcher One of four subspecies of willow flycatcher, the migratory southwestern willow flycatcher (SWWF) occurs in New Mexico, Arizona, southern California, and the southern parts of Utah and Colorado. The SWWF is a riparian obligate species, nesting in dense clumps of willow or shrubs with similar structure (alder, some tamarisk) along low-gradient streams, wetlands, beaver ponds, wet meadows and rivers. The US Fish and Wildlife Service announced the listing of the southwestern willow flycatcher as an endangered species on February 27, 1995. This migratory bird is endangered by extensive loss and alteration of riparian habitat, and by brood parasitism in some areas (USFWS 1995b). The project area is not within designated critical habitat, or the revised critical habitat due to take effect on February 5, 2013 which in southeastern Utah includes the north bank of the San Juan River (USFWS 2013). SWWF have not been detected recently on the San Juan River in Utah, but the area may be able to support flycatcher territories and is therefore essential to flycatcher recovery (USFWS 2013). Breeding sites are commonly in wide floodplains, as opposed to relatively confined channels in canyons (Hatten and Paradzick 2003). Habitat potential for southwestern willow flycatchers in deep sandstone canyons is limited by the narrow width of the floodplain, stream gradient, the intermittent nature of the surface water supply, and the occurrence of high velocity flood events which limit riparian habitat development. Isolated, linear riparian patches less than 10 m wide generally do not provide nesting habitat (Finch and Stoleson 2000), and represent the potential condition of most of the riparian areas in the intermittent drainages in canyons in the project area. Surveys on the Moab/Monticello district have not confirmed any southwestern willow flycatchers and only limited suitable habitat (Wright and Couch 2006, Howe 1998, Landis 1992), although not all potential habitat has been searched according to protocol. Suitable and potential habitat as described by USFWS does occur on the district, in willow patches along waterways or near small lakes or wet meadows at low to moderate elevations. The Monticello district is within the Upper Colorado Recovery Unit, where flycatchers were originally identified as nesting up to 7940’ in elevation (USFWS 2002). Higher elevation, coniferous forest riparian areas are not potential habitat. The 2006 wetland/riparian inventory on the Monticello district along with the existing vegetation layer for the Forest identifies 115 acres of wetland and riparian communities in the North Elk Ridge project area (see Map12). The wetlands are more accurately classified as intermittent wet/dry meadows, and are on top of Elk Ridge at 8400-8600 ft. Only 28 acres occur below 8000 feet (the upper limit for SWWF nesting) in South Cottonwood Canyon, and are classified as cottonwood/brush habitat with occasional patches of coyote willow (Salix exigua). The riparian habitat is outside the treatment unit and along the main road. It will not be adversely impacted by any proposed treatments. South Cottonwood Canyon and tributaries comprise the dominant riparian habitat in the San Juan watershed portion of the project area. On NFS lands, it is mostly forested habitat, with cottonwoods (Populus angustifolia) and conifers and patches of coyote willow (Figure 7). Willow dominated riparian habitat occurs below the project area boundary (Figure 8). The heads of all the tributary canyons of South Cottonwood and Dark Canyon were also inventoried for willow/riparian habitat. Limited habitat was found, and most is above 8000 feet. The project area is approximately 30 miles from the San Juan River.


In the Colorado River watershed portion of the project area, Deadman, Poison and Dark Canyon are the main tributaries. These narrow sandstone canyons have some riparian habitat with cottonwoods, coyote willow, tamarisk (Tamarix sp.), thinleaf alder (Alnus incana) and water birch (Betula occidentalis). The project area is 20 miles from the Colorado River.

Figure 7. Scattered cottonwood trees in upper South Cottonwood Canyon within project area/thinning treatment unit - riparian buffer zone

Figure 8. Coyote willow riparian habitat in lower South Cottonwood Canyon outside the project area

Effects Analysis: While southwestern willow flycatchers are unlikely to occur in the project area, effects to riparian habitat are minimized by the use of riparian buffers for mechanical treatments, no ignition zones in riparian areas, and following other applicable Soil and Water Conservation Practices and National Best Management Practices such as suspending activity during wet periods and constructing water bars in fire lines. There would be no water depletions or downstream effects to riparian habitat along the Colorado or San Juan Rivers. Recreation use may impact riparian habitats where people camp and access spring areas. This concentrated use may result in the hardening of sites and a loss of vegetation. Dispersed recreation use in the drainages in the project area is limited largely to portions of upper South Cottonwood Canyon due to a lack of road access to other areas. This forested part of the canyon is not SWWF habitat, and there are no cumulative effects from recreation on the Forest to the species. Tamarisk occurrence is still limited in the drainages off Elk Ridge. Treatment has been conducted in South Cottonwood Canyon to slow the spread of tamarisk. These treatments have been limited in size, and are beneficial in retaining a healthy, native riparian system. There are no non-federal actions planned in the action area that would add cumulatively to impacts from the proposed project. The proposed vegetation treatments on North Elk Ridge may effect, but are unlikely to adversely affect the southwestern willow flycatcher.


California condor Condors are huge vultures, with a wingspan of up to 9.5 feet. The condor’s range once extended from British Columbia south through Baja California. When the last wild birds were captured in 1987, the species was limited to the coastal foothills and mountains of southern California. Condors nest primarily in caves, potholes and sheltered rock outcrops and forage in grasslands. Condors feed only on carrion, mostly of larger animals such as bison, deer and pronghorn and in historic times, cattle. As part of a captive breeding and reintroduction program, California condors were released into the wild at the Vermilion Cliffs in northern Arizona near the Grand Canyon in 1997. Condors from this release site have subsequently been observed in various locations in southern Utah. These individuals are part of a non-essential, experimental population and are not subject to the same level of protection as naturally occurring populations of threatened and endangered species. The project area is within the designated experimental population area, where all released condors and their progeny are expected to remain (USFWS 1996). While condors have the potential to occur within the District, this species is not known to nest or roost here and occurs on a transient basis. Effects Analysis: Suitable cliff habitat required by condors does occur adjacent to the project area, especially in the Dark Canyon Wilderness area, but the species does not currently utilize the area. There would be no direct effects to nesting/roosting habitat from the proposed action, and due to the scale of the project on the landscape, there would be no effect to transient condors. No cumulative effects would occur. The proposed action will not affect the California condor.


III. DETERMINATION OF EFFECTS Threatened and Endangered Wildlife Species: It is my determination that the proposed North Elk Ridge Forest Health project would not affect the following threatened or endangered wildlife species that do not occur in the project area: black-footed ferret and the candidate species western yellow-billed cuckoo and Gunnison sage-grouse. The proposed vegetative treatments may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect Mexican spotted owls. The project area is contiguous with occupied and potential Mexican spotted owl habitat. Project objectives related to reducing the risk of landscape scale high-intensity fire and creating a natural mosaic of forest conditions align with desired conditions in the Recovery Plan. Specific design features of the proposed action to reduce potential effects to MSO are:

• no mechanical treatment (thinning, chainsaw or mastication) within 0.5 mi of modeled nest/roost habitat or within critical habitat during the breeding season

• seasonal restrictions on treatment in Deadman/Poison Canyon aspen prescribed burn unit

• eliminate portion of Deadman/Poison Canyon unit which overlaps with MSO PAC and modeled breeding/roosting habitat

• survey South Cottonwood aspen prescribed burn unit for MSO prior to any treatment o if owls found, unit will be dropped or modified as needed o if no owls found after 2 years of protocol survey, unit will be burned as proposed with no seasonal restriction

The proposed treatments may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect Mexican spotted owl designated critical habitat. While the whole project area is within critical habitat, areas on the mesa top do not meet the definition of protected/restricted and are not utilized by MSO for breeding/roosting. The thinning and prescribed burning treatments proposed would improve forest health and productivity, and move towards a properly-functioning condition. The main area of critical habitat affected is the conifer, aspen and mountain brush slopes identified for prescribed burning. These foraging areas would have reductions in canopy cover and amount of mature forest, but the resultant structural diversity and increase in understory and shrub production (within 5 years) would benefit small mammal prey species. Important habitat features such as snags and large trees would be retained across the landscape. The proposed action may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect southwestern willow flycatcher habitat as project activity will not directly affect any suitable riparian habitat. There is very limited habitat available in the project area, mainly due to intermittent water flows and channel characteristics. Regeneration or maintenance of riparian woody vegetation would not be impaired by proposed treatments. The proposed action would have No Effect on California condors as they do not currently occur in the area. Threatened and Endangered Fish Species: The proposed vegetation management would not adversely affect any of the drainages where these species occur, and there would be no effects to the quantity and quality of habitat. There are no new water depletions authorized by the proposed action. The proposed vegetation treatments do not limit recovery of the species. Therefore, it is my determination that the proposed action would not affect the bonytail, humpback chub, Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, or their critical habitats. The greenback cutthroat trout does not occur in watersheds in or downstream of the project area,


and would not be affected by the proposed action. Threatened and Endangered Plant Species: No listed plant species or their habitats occur within the project area. Therefore, it is my determination that the proposed action would not affect the Navajo sedge.

IV. SUMMARY OF CONCLUSION OF EFFECTS

Species

No Effect

May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect

Likely To Adversely Affect

Beneficial Effect

Mexican spotted owl

X

Southwestern willow flycatcher

X

California condor

X

Black-footed ferret X

Bonytail

X

Humpback chub X

Colorado pikeminnow

X

Razorback sucker

X

Greenback cutthroat trout X

Western yellow-billed cuckoo X

Gunnison sage-grouse X

Navajo sedge X


V. REFERENCES Atwood, D., J. Holland, R. Bolander, B. Franklin, D. E. House, L. Armstrong, K. Thorne, and L. England.

1991. Utah Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Plant Field Guide. USFS, NPS, BLM, UNHP, USFWS, EPA, Navajo Nation, and Skull Valley Goshute Tribe.

Bartuszevige, A.M. and P.L. Kennedy. 2009. Synthesis of knowledge on the effects of fire and thinning on understory vegetation in U.S. dry forests, Special Report 1095. Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station. Corvallis, OR. 132 pgs.

Block, W.M., J.L. Ganey, P.E. Scott and R. King. 2005. Prey ecology of Mexican spotted owls in pine-oak forests of northern Arizona. Journal of Wildlife Management 69(2):618-629.

Finch, D.M. and S.H. Stoleson, eds. 2000. Status, ecology, and conservation of the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-60.

Hatten, J.R. and C.E. Paradzick. 2003. A multiscaled model of southwestern willow flycatcher breeding habitat. Journal of Wildlife Management 67(4).

Howe, F. 1998. 1998 Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Surveys on U.S. Forest Service Lands in Utah. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Salt Lake City, UT.

Kennedy, P.L. and J.B. Fontaine. 2009. Synthesis of knowledge on the effects of fire and fire surrogates on wildlife in U.S. dry forests, Special Report 1096. Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station. Corvallis, OR. 132 pgs.

Landis, C. 1992. Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Habitat and Bird Survey in Manti-La Sal National Forest. Unpublished Report.

Manti-La Sal National Forest. 1998. Properly Functioning Condition Assessment. July 1998. Manti-La Sal National Forest. 2009a. Moab/Monticello district owl survey summary. Unpublished data. Manti-La Sal National Forest. 2009b. Summary of PFC Riparian Assessments. J. Vanderbilt. Sureda, M. and M.L. Morrison. 1998. Habitat use by small mammals in southeastern Utah, with reference

to Mexican spotted owl Management. Great Basin Naturalist 58(1):76-81. USDA Forest Service. 1986. Manti-La Sal National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, as

amended. Manti-La Sal National Forest, Price, UT. USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2013. 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife

and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Southwestern Willow Flycatcher; Final Rule. Federal Register/Vol. 78, No. 2/January 3, 2013, page 344-520.

USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2012a. Federally Listed and Proposed Endangered, Threatened and Candidate Species and Habitat in Utah by County as of December 2012. Mountain-Prairie Region, Utah Field Office, Salt Lake City, UT.

USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2012b. Final Recovery Plan for the Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis lucida), First Revision. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. 413 pp.

USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2004. 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Mexican Spotted Owl; Final Rule. Federal Register/Vol. 69, No. 168/August 31, 2004, page 53182-53298.

USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2002. Final Recovery Plan Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus). Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Recovery Team Technical Subgroup, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1996. 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Establishment of a Nonessential Experimental Population of California Condors in Northern Arizona. Federal Register/ Vol. 61, No. 201/ October 16, 1996, page 54044-54060.

USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1995. Recovery plan for the Mexican Spotted Owl: Vol.I. Albuquerque, New Mexico.

USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1995b. 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and Threatened Species: Southwestern Willow Flycatcher; Final Rule. Federal Register/Vol. 60, No. 38/February 27, 1995.

USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1985. 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and Threatened Species: Determination of Carex specuicola to be a Threatened Species with Critical Habitat; Final Rule. Federal Register/Vol. 50, No. 89/May 8, 1985.

Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, S. Goodrich, L.C. Higgins. 1993. A Utah Flora, Second Edition, revised. Great Basin Naturalist Memoirs No. 9.


Willey, D.W. 1993. Home-range Characteristics and Juvenile Dispersal Ecology of Mexican Spotted Owls

in Southern Utah. Unpublished Report submitted to Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Willey-Spotskey MSO habitat models, 1997 and 2000. Wright, A. and C. Couch. 2006. Southwestern willow flycatcher surveys in southeastern Utah during

2006. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Price, UT. Unpublished report, 30 November 2006.

Ponderosa pine forest 1 year post-fire

Duck Lake area on Elk Ridge


APPENDIX


Details of the Proposed Action:

• Hand (chainsaw) thinning of non-commercial [less than 8 inches Diameter Breast Height (DBH)] materials would occur on about 1900 acres. Thinned species would include ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, white fir, pinyon pine, juniper, and gambel oak and other deciduous shrubs. Branches will be pruned from the lower 5 feet of the bole of conifer leave trees in thinned areas to reduce ladder fuels. Conifer trees may also be removed from within or around the edge of aspen clones (within a distance of 1½ conifer tree lengths of the treated clone) in order to retain aspen for its benefits for fire management, biodiversity, and aesthetic values.

• An area 30 to 40 feet in radius around live yellow-bark character ponderosa pine

(individual trees or groups) may be cleared of smaller trees and deciduous shrubs (less than 6 inches DBH) to reduce ladder fuels and competition to these trees in the thinning units. This, combined with thinning treatments, will promote open, park-like stand structures and provide for the retention of these large tree characteristics. No yellow-bark character pines would be cut down. Across the landscape, a diversity of age classes, stand structures and density would be retained with a mosaic of treatment types and untreated areas.

• Thinning and fuel treatments will follow Forest Plan recommendations for management

of northern goshawk, Abert’s squirrel, mule deer and elk, as well as other standards and guidelines applicable to this area. In addition, ecosystem management actions in the “Management Recommendations for the Northern Goshawk in the Southwestern US” (Reynolds et al 1992) which enhance habitat values for multiple wildlife species will be followed.

• Follow-up underburning and jackpot (fuel concentration) burning will reduce fine fuels

from the thinning activities. Following mechanical treatments, activity created and existing fuels will be treated through the following methods: a) lop and scatter ponderosa pine treatment and other chainsaw thinning areas. A combination of natural fuel breaks, existing roads or trails, hand fireline, and machine fireline may be used to limit fire spread during prescribed burn activities. Sagebrush openings will be avoided during burning. Large logs (12 inches midpoint DBH and 8 feet or larger in length) and large snags (18 inches DBH and larger) will be avoided during ignition activities. Fuels would be placed in openings with adequate clearance from standing snags and live trees to avoid damage during burning.

• Prescribed fire – Forested (ponderosa pine) stands: 40-80% effective burn; low

intensity and severity surface fire on 7585 acres, including the 1900 acres of thinning treatment; fine and small diameter fuels will be consumed, duff consumption 30-50%, scorch height is variable depending on the general tree size in the burn area (small trees will have a lower acceptable scorch height than larger diameter trees) but generally should be such that fire is not carried into the live tree canopy; minimal overstory mortality (occasional single trees or small scattered groups a maximum of three acres in size may rarely occur).

• Periodic light (maintenance) underburns to reduce litter, needle layers, and ladder fuels

beneath the ponderosa pine trees would be required in the future at a 5-10 year interval to keep fuels at low levels and maintain a near historic condition class in the area. In


addition to initial fuel treatments, one maintenance ponderosa pine underburn is included in this proposed action on the 7585 acres.

• Prescribed fire - Aspen/mixed conifer stands: In stands identified for aspen

regeneration treatment (about 5200 acres): Moderate to high intensity fire resulting in 40-80% mortality in tree species present. Aspen stands proposed for treatment are those impacted by insects, disease, conifer encroachment and ungulate browsing.

• Mechanical treatment (of about 150 acres) in areas 5-40 acres in size using chainsaw to fell and/or heavy equipment to remove the live aspen trees and conifers in the treatment areas to allow more sunlight and promote suckering of the clone. There will also be mechanical treatments of .25-5 acres in size covering 50-80 acres total on slopes of less than 10% to promote suckering of small patches of aspen common on North Elk Ridge. Fencing or other appropriate deterrents will be put in place in all mechanical treatments to inhibit grazing and browsing by ungulates until regeneration is established and able to withstand grazing.

• Where necessary to provide suitable areas for aspen regeneration, larger, yellow-bark

character pines may be girdled/or otherwise retained as standing dead trees to provide snags, an important wildlife habitat component which is lacking across much of Elk Ridge. Other commercial size trees may be felled and utilized for biomass, for protection of aspen regeneration (fencing) or firewood collection.

• Slash depth of thinned materials will generally be 18 inches or less in height.

• Design features will be incorporated that include Forest Plan standards and guidelines,

best management practices, and monitoring measures in order to reduce the impacts of access (mechanized cross-country travel), thinning and other treatments to implement fuel and restoration treatments. Personnel may need to use ATV/UTV’s for access for project implementation of thinning and prescribed fire. Any trail or tracks created that could be accessed by the public or have erosion potential would be rehabilitated.

• The project may be implemented utilizing service contract, stewardship contract or

agreement, force account crew, or personal and commercial forest product use permits. Contractors may be offered an option to utilize thinned or felled materials in precommercial thinning and aspen regeneration areas to aid in the reduction of hazard fuels. Materials may be utilized for fuel biomass production, in the project area to protect treated aspen clones or for fuelwood. Access would be provided utilizing existing roads. Some mechanized cross country travel may be authorized to remove materials or provide access to construct fences for aspen regeneration protection.

Design features Vegetation

• Heavy needle litter will be raked away by hand from the base of old yellow-bark character (legacy) ponderosa pine trees and snags prior to prescribed burning where possible.

• Monitoring will occur the 1st, 3rd, and 5th full seasons following treatment to determine treatment success and to identify any special protection needs that arise


• Stocking guidelines are identified in the Forest Plan, and in the aspen type are 300-600 trees/acre with a minimum of 70% of the area stocked. These guidelines can be modified in specific management prescriptions, and for this project have been identified as a minimum of 500 trees/acre, with a desired density of ≥1000 trees/ac, 6 feet tall at 5 years.

• Fencing or other adaptive management of livestock and big game will be used to protect aspen regeneration where needed.

• Treatment/ignition will focus on aspen areas encroached by conifers. Prescribed burning in aspen/mixed conifer areas that are less than 30% slope could encourage browsing by livestock and wild ungulates. Adaptive management options to provide protection to treated areas until regenerated aspen sprouts reach an average height or diameter that can withstand grazing (about 6 feet height and 2 inches dbh) for livestock are changes in length, timing or season of use, number of livestock, placement of salt and nutritional supplements, temporary electric fence or rest. Management of wildlife involves working with DWR on changes in hunting seasons and units and permit numbers. Slope and location relative to treatments will be considered when selecting ignition areas. Following burning, effectively burned areas that could be susceptible to damage will be reviewed and decisions made for application of appropriate adaptive management strategies.

• Areas in excess of 30% slope may receive some grazing by deer and elk, however the large acreage treated should disperse grazing activity and treatments should be successful without construction of fence to exclude wildlife.

Cultural Resources • Evaluate, protect, and monitor all National Register eligible sites. These

sites will be avoided. • Discovery of previously unknown sites, surface or subsurface, may occur

during project implementation. Project activity in the vicinity of the cultural resource would cease and a USFS representative notified immediately. All cultural resources shall be protected in accordance with Federal Laws.

• All persons associated with this project will be informed that they will be subject to prosecution for knowingly disturbing Native American Indian historic and prehistoric archaeology sites, or for collecting artifacts of any kind, including historic items and/or arrowheads and pottery fragments from Federal lands.

Wildlife

• Prescribed burning activity should be scheduled to avoid the opening of big game (deer and elk) hunts.

• Specific timing and survey requirements for Mexican spotted owl habitat are outlined in the Biological Assessment.

Noxious/invasive plants

• Noxious weed free certification will be required for all straw or hay bales used for mulch, and for any seed mixes used for the project. Any seeding would use an approved native seed mix specified for this project.

• Control noxious weeds as appropriate under existing decisions and agreements.


Range Resources • Protect all range improvements (i.e. fences, spring developments) from

project-caused damage. Watershed/soils

• Implement the Soil and Water Conservation Practices and National Best Management Practices identified in the project soils and hydrology technical reports.

• Fire ignition will be outside riparian buffers (300 foot buffer for wetlands, wet meadows, perennial streams and springs and a 100 foot buffer for intermittent and ephemeral streams).

Recreation

• Any firelines constructed would be fully reclaimed. • Temporary road and area (South Cottonwood Canyon, Gooseberry)

closures may be necessary • Prescribed burning operations need to be coordinated with outfitter/guides

and the general public. Notices should be put in the newspapers, on radio and other important points (San Juan Sheriff, Town of Blanding) for public information.

• Intense burns should be avoided in stands adjacent to system trails. A Monitoring Plan will be developed and outline specific measures. Applicable Forest-wide and Management Unit direction identified in the Forest Plan is also incorporated into the project design.


Map 1. General vicinity map.


Map 2. North Elk Ridge project area and proposed treatments.


Map 3. Project area map with vegetation and watersheds.


Map 4. Action area – includes the project area with a mile+ buffer, the Poison canyon drainage, 13 miles downstream in Dark Canyon to narrows portion where there is limited riparian vegetation and 10 miles downstream in South Cottonwood Canyon below the main Allen and Hammond Canyon tributaries.


Map 5. Mexican spotted owl designated critical habitat and PACs.


Map 6. North Elk Ridge project area 1997 and 2000 model MSO habitat.


Map 7. Detail map of Deadman aspen prescribed burn unit and MSO habitat.


Map 8. Detail map of Cottonwood aspen prescribed burn unit and MSO habitat.


Map 9. Imagery of South Cottonwood Canyon drainage MSO habitat with 2000 model

breeding/roosting habitat pixels and comparison of habitat inside and outside project area.


Map 10. Detail imagery of Notch Canyon MSO habitat.


Map 11. Detail imagery of unnamed west fork South Cottonwood Canyon and MSO habitat.


Map 12. Riparian and wetland areas on North Elk Ridge.

Documents

I. INTRODUCTIONa123.g.akamai.net/.../nepa/91485_FSPLT3_2067683.pdf · I. INTRODUCTION . This Biological Assessment (BA) reviews the North Elk Ridge Forest Health project to determine