Final Environmental Impact Statement

Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3
88
Summary of Effects to SOLC
(Accipiter striatus) become denser. Conifers would
continue to encroach into meadows
and hardwoods. MPB activity
would be expected to continue,
changing the existing structural
stages, with the majority of pine
sites transitioning to SS1, 2, and
3A. This change would also result
in decreased nesting habitat and
may cause displacement. The threat
of stand replacing wildfire would
increase. Spruce is expected to
remain at 42 acres.
Cooper’s Hawk
(Accipiter cooperi)
Would have adverse cumulative
effects to habitat. Potential for
long-term adverse cumulative
effects due to stand replacing
events.
may cause short-term displacement of
individuals. Unknown nests may be
disturbed during harvest activities. Provides
for habitat diversity. Would decrease existing
MPB and wildfire risk. Spruce would not
change from Alternative 1.
Cumulative Effects
Past, present, and future activities are
expected to continue in the project area, as
well as on private lands. Alternative 2 would
be expected to incrementally offset some of
the effects of past fire suppression by
reducing pine encroachment in spruce,
meadow, and hardwood habitat through
vegetation treatment activities. Treatment
activities are expected to temporarily
produce disturbance impacts to sharpshinned
hawks. Mountain pine beetle is also
expected to incrementally offset some of the
above effects naturally by reducing pine
encroachment into spruce, meadow, and
hardwood habitat. However, because of the
effects of MPB, there is expected to be
adverse cumulative effects to sharp-shinned
hawks because of loss of suitable nesting
habitat.
Private lands may continue to be developed,
some of which may include roads. All may
affect sharp-shinned hawks through direct
mortality, modification of behavior, habitat
alteration, spread of exotics, or disturbance.
There are no known future activities which
would affect spruce habitat.
Summary
The No Action alternative retains the most suitable nesting habitat, with the most
potential for more future nesting habitat than the proposed alternative. However, no
SS3C is left because of MPB effects. The same amount of spruce is available in
both alternatives. The proposed action is expected to increase hardwood acreage
because of hardwood conversion treatments, although this habitat type for nesting is
not significant. This alternative would contribute toward meeting Forest Objective
221. This species is likely to persist on the Forest.
Alternative 1
Alternative 2
No Action
Proposed Action
Direct and Indirect Effects
MPB risk and wildfire risk would Preferred nesting habitat would decrease
not decrease. Nesting habitat would from existing conditions. More preferred