NEPA--Environmental Assessment

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Depending on the alternative selected, the applicable design criteria become a part of the projectlevel decision and the resultant Allotment Management Plans. The list of design criteria has been organized into logical categories. Each bullet statement applies to a specific action alternative as indicated by an “x” in the far right columns. Table 2-1. Project Design Criteria for General Management of Permitted Domestic Sheep Alternative Livestock Herding* 2 3 Livestock will be herded using the “open herding system” and distributed across the allotment(s) in order to achieve proper grazing utilization of key forage species. (1.1) x x Repeated trailing by sheep across areas is to be avoided. (1.2) x The “close herding” of sheep and the driving of bands to camp during the noon hour or at night are prohibited. (1.3) x x Move sheep to a new grazing area every 5-7 days. (1.4) x Snow bank areas will be avoided until they are dry enough to prevent livestock trampling impacts. (1.5) x x Permittees will spend as much time as needed to move livestock away from areas of concern (meadows, riparian areas, key areas, and so forth) and into areas of normally light use, provided that such herding does not result in increased potential for contact. This benefits permittees since it allows livestock to make use of forage that otherwise will not be grazed before allowable use standards are met in the key areas and the livestock are required to be removed from a pasture. (1.6) Livestock grazing will be managed in riparian areas and willow carrs (a wetland willow thicket) to maintain or achieve mid-seral or higher condition to provide cover and forage for prey species within Canada lynx habitat (from Ruediger et al. 2000). (1.7) Livestock will be moved away from water sources after animals have finished drinking. The sheep will not be trailed to and from water. (1.8) All trailing on federal land for ingress and egress to the permitted allotment will be within the period of use specified in the permit. (1.9) Livestock grazing systems will be designed to maximize the opportunity for plant regrowth and recovery, by focusing on the frequency of defoliation, the intensity of defoliation, and the timing and duration of livestock use. (1.10) Grazing schedules will be developed so that areas are used at different times of the year if at all possible. Grazing schedules will be developed in the Annual Operating Instructions based on the Grazing Response Index and/or an evaluation of grazing and trailing from the previous season and the resource conditions of the current season. Negative GRI scores are to be avoided and will be corrected by changing any or all of the following: the season of use, allowable use standard, residual stubble height, stocking rate, timing of livestock use. (1.11) x x x x x x x x x 29
Alternative Livestock Bedding 2 3 Sheep will be bedded on new ground after two nights and moved to fresh feed daily in accordance with the current routing schedule. (1.12) x x Sheep will be bedded on uplands or rocky ground, where possible. (1.13) x Sheep bedding and salting will not occur in Uncompahgre fritillary butterfly habitat. (1.14) x Sheep should be bedded away from any running stream, spring, lake, system trail, campground, picnic ground, and the remains of historic structures. There may some exceptions due to topography on the allotment but these will be approved in advance by the Forest Officer. (1.15) Bedgrounds in some areas may be closed or relocated in the Annual Operating Instructions on an annual basis, based on impacts. Locations of and frequency of use will be one of annual monitoring indicators. (1.16) Herders will be vigilante to domestic movement off of bedgrounds during the night due to lunar phase or predation. These strays will be located and returned to the band the next day. (1.17) x x x Alternative Disposal of Dead Livestock 2 3 When an animal covered by this permit dies from any cause, including contagious or infectious disease, the carcass must be buried in a location greater than 200 feet from water, out of view of roads or trails, and away from any areas of significant public use, within 24 hours of discovery, or notification by forest personnel. Off road travel or the use of heavy equipment must be authorized by the Forest Service, in advance. The preferred method for burial is simply by the use of a pick and shovel. If an animal dies or is killed from any other cause, the carcass must be moved to a location greater than 200 feet from water, out of view of roads or trails, and away from any areas of significant public use, within 24 hours of discovery, or notification by forest service personnel. Carcasses may be burned under certain circumstances when authorized by forest service personnel on a case by case basis. (1.18) x x Alternative Herder Camps 2 3 Sheep herder camps will be moved every 5 to 10 days. (1.19) x x Camps will be placed at least 100 feet from live water. (1.20) x x Camps will be kept and left clean. All flammable refuse will either be burned or packed put. Unburnable refuse, including cans, bottles, etc., will be packed out. (1.21) x x Camps will be placed at least 200 feet from any system trail. (1.22) x x Sheep herders will not be allowed to excavate campsites. (1.23) x Sheep herders will not be allowed to cut krummholz (dwarf spruce trees at timberline) for firewood. (1.24) All fires built for any purpose by the permittee and/or herder will not be left unattended and will be completely extinguished. Each camp must be equipped with a serviceable shovel and ax. During periods the FS/BLM has enacted fire restrictions, these restrictions will be observed. (1.25) x x x 30
Page 1 and 2: United States Department of Agricul
Page 3 and 4: Silverton Landscape Grazing Analysi
Page 5 and 6: These issues led the agency to deve
Page 7 and 8: administered with shared facilities
Page 9 and 10: Engine Creek/Deer Creek Allotment T
Page 11 and 12: Gladstone Allotment This allotment
Page 13 and 14: Gulch. In 1956, the numbers decreas
Page 15 and 16: Figure 1-1. Project Analysis Area 1
Page 17 and 18: Specific Management Emphasis Areas
Page 19 and 20: Livestock Grazing Permits Livestock
Page 21 and 22: Figure 1-3. Management Emphasis Are
Page 23 and 24: Desired Conditions for Bighorn: Red
Page 25 and 26: Figure 1-4. 2008 Data Collection Po
Page 27 and 28: Figure 1-6. Wilderness Overlap 24
Page 29 and 30: Issues ____________________________
Page 31: CHAPTER 2 - ALTERNATIVES This chapt
Page 35 and 36: Alternative Noxious Plants/Invasive
Page 37 and 38: Table 2-2. Project Design Criteria
Page 39 and 40: Alternative Minimization of Threat
Page 41 and 42: Alternative 2 - Current Management_
Page 43 and 44: Elk Creek Allot • Do not use the
Page 45 and 46: Figure 2-1. Proposed Action - Avoid
Page 47 and 48: Monitoring for Alternative 3 Monito
Page 49 and 50: • Photographs and Photo-points: P
Page 51 and 52: years in an emergency situation, su
Page 53 and 54: Comparison of Alternatives ________
Page 55 and 56: Water Quality _____________________
Page 57 and 58: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES Alternat
Page 59 and 60: from water or bedgrounds (Arnold an
Page 61 and 62: 2008). It differs from the wetland
Page 63 and 64: Red Mountain Allotment Yellow toadf
Page 65 and 66: unlikely that any of these species
Page 67 and 68: Recreation Special Use Permits for
Page 69 and 70: livestock management would not chan
Page 71 and 72: Concurrent to this grazing analysis
Page 73 and 74: Alternative 2 Habitat conditions fo
Page 75 and 76: intensity on alpine plants appeared
Page 77 and 78: the other two species due to the co
Page 79 and 80: lack bighorn sheep escape cover. Th
Page 81 and 82: trailing route, and lack of bighorn
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Similar to Alternative 2, selecting
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ptarmigan is expected under Alterna
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CUMULATIVE IMPACTS Global warming i
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Wildlife - Management Indicator Spe
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and it will not be discussed in det
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Selecting Alternative 2 would have
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for MIS in the landscape. Wildlife
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The alpine tundra group would benef
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species of conservation concern as
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management options, while others ma
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prior to evaluating them for the NR
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present state. In general, where un
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CHAPTER 4 - CONSULTATION AND COORDI
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APPENDIX B - CITATIONS AND REFERENC
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Martin, K.D., T.J. Schommer, and V.
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Regional Office, Durango, CO. Weste
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Species Habitat Present In the Spec
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Species Mammals (13) Allen’s big-
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MIS Species Preferred Habitat Broug
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Likelihood of Species Status* Prefe
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APPENDIX D - BIGHORN RISK ASSESSMEN
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Silverton Grazing Risk Assessment T
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Silverton Grazing Risk Assessment a
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Silverton Grazing Risk Assessment b
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Silverton Grazing Risk Assessment N
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Silverton Grazing Risk Assessment i
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Silverton Grazing Risk Assessment M
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Silverton Grazing Risk Assessment A
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Silverton Grazing Risk Assessment R
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Silverton Grazing Risk Assessment m
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Silverton Grazing Risk Assessment H
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Silverton Grazing Risk Assessment F
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Silverton Grazing Risk Assessment F
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NEPA--Environmental Assessment

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