Final Environmental Impact Statement
Final Environmental Impact Statement
Final Environmental Impact Statement
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Vestal <strong>Final</strong> <strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Statement</strong> Chapter 3<br />
White-tailed Deer<br />
(Odocoileus<br />
virginianus)<br />
80<br />
Summary of Effects on MIS<br />
species if pertinent Forest standards and guidelines are followed. The proposed<br />
action would meet these standards and guidelines. Therefore, this species is likely to<br />
persist on the Forest. Under both alternatives, there would be adequate habitat for<br />
maintaining populations for beaver.<br />
Alternative 1<br />
No Action<br />
In time pine seedlings may provide<br />
additional hiding cover along some<br />
roads. If existing MPB activity<br />
continues foraging habitat would be<br />
expected to increase significantly,<br />
however thermal cover would<br />
decrease. Screening/hiding cover<br />
would remain adequate.<br />
Fawning cover would be expected<br />
to increase as a result of increased<br />
downed material (eg. logs, shrubs,<br />
forest floor debris) from MPB killed<br />
trees. Potential for shrubs and<br />
hardwoods to increase, but the<br />
presence of livestock would<br />
increase forage competition with<br />
big game.<br />
No change to existing open road<br />
density would occur.<br />
Adverse cumulative effects may<br />
occur. Forage is expected to<br />
increase, but MPB activities may<br />
decrease hiding and thermal cover.<br />
Activities from recreational use and<br />
private land management would<br />
also reduce habitat.<br />
Direct and Indirect Effects<br />
Alternative 2<br />
Proposed Action<br />
Short term disturbance and displacement<br />
expected from vegetation treatments.<br />
Screening cover may be reduced along some<br />
roads, however much of the screening cover<br />
is due to topography rather than vegetation.<br />
Design criteria are included to retain at least<br />
20% screening cover along all arterial and<br />
collector roads, resulting in Guideline 3203<br />
being met.<br />
Hiding/thermal cover would be expected to<br />
decrease from existing condition due to MPB<br />
activity. However, proposed activities are<br />
expected to retain more hiding/thermal cover<br />
than the No Action.<br />
Open road density would remain similar to<br />
No Action. Total road miles would be<br />
increased by one mile; however this road<br />
would remain closed to the public.<br />
Foraging habitat would be expected to<br />
increase as a result of proposed activities and<br />
expected MPB activities. Shrubs, hardwoods<br />
and meadows may improve habitat enough<br />
that deer population may increase in number<br />
within the project area, but may move<br />
outside of the project area to seek denser pine<br />
stands.<br />
Cumulative Effects<br />
Would add to positive effects of past<br />
prescribed burns and timber harvests by<br />
increasing diversity of forage, and increasing<br />
early successional vegetative stages. May<br />
slightly reduce screening cover, and would<br />
greatly reduce thermal cover. Potential to<br />
decrease winter habitat for big game species.<br />
Expected to add to disturbance by OHV and<br />
recreation use. Activities from recreational<br />
use and private land management would also<br />
reduce habitat.<br />
Summary<br />
Screening cover would be provided at levels noted in Guideline 3203 on all arterial<br />
and collector roads within the project area. Monitoring data suggests habitat is not<br />
limiting population growth of deer and the Forest is meeting Objective 238a.<br />
Neither of the alternatives would contribute to a Forest-wide loss of summer habitat,<br />
therefore, the alternatives would contribute to attainment of Objective 238a.<br />
However, because of the current MPB infestation along with treatment, the proposed<br />
action is expected to lessen cover habitat, which is important during hunting season<br />
and winter for deer and other big game. Adequate habitat across the Forest would