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 />
Cooper’s<br />
mountain snail<br />
(Oreohelix strigosa<br />
cooperi)<br />
104<br />
Summary of Effects on R2 Sensitive Species<br />
incremental impact regarding sediment input.<br />
This negative impact would be additive to<br />
other sediment input resulting from ongoing<br />
road use/maintenance and livestock grazing<br />
on public and private land adjacent to French<br />
Creek. Overall, assigned fisheries beneficial<br />
uses are likely to be maintained. Non-native<br />
fish populations would persist that may<br />
negatively impact the mountain sucker.<br />
Stream fragmentation remains largely<br />
unchanged due to Stockade Dam and perched<br />
culverts on lower French Creek.<br />
Summary<br />
The alternatives ‘may adversely impact individuals, but not likely to result in a<br />
loss of viability in the Planning Area, nor cause a trend toward federal listing’.<br />
Mountain sucker viability is not at risk due to the minor amount of aquatic habitat<br />
affected and the low magnitude of potential direct or indirect adverse effects.<br />
Project is consistent with Objective 221.<br />
Alternative 1<br />
No Action<br />
Beetle caused mortality is expected<br />
to diminish dense conifer stand<br />
conditions that would protect these<br />
snails from environmental<br />
conditions and desiccation.<br />
Increased potential for standreplacing<br />
wildfires, which could<br />
eliminate localized colonies and<br />
reduce suitable habitat both shortterm<br />
and long-term<br />
Direct and Indirect Effects<br />
Alternative 2<br />
Proposed Action<br />
Potential for direct effects.<br />
Retains more dense canopy than No Action.<br />
Colonies would likely expand where suitable<br />
habitat is present.<br />
Sanitation of beetle infested trees within<br />
Frest sites may cause short-term impacts, but<br />
would retain more suitable habitat in the<br />
long-term.<br />
Cumulative Effects<br />
Drought can have negative impacts on this species by reducing moist site<br />
requirements necessary to sustain colony number. The loss of overstory due to MPB<br />
mortality and the high probability of large-scale wildfire could reduce moist site<br />
conditions depending on size of openings and severity/intensity of fire. High<br />
intensity fire may destroy colonies and their habitat, isolate colonies, and reduce<br />
decay material necessary for their life cycle, which may last long-term. The<br />
proposed action is expected to reduce the potential for MPB and large wildfires<br />
which is expected to incrementally offset some of the effects of past fire<br />
suppression. Forest management activities, including livestock grazing, fuel<br />
treatments, recreation, and prescribed burning, in Vestal and in adjacent areas can<br />
increase isolation and increase xeric conditions that would limit snail colony<br />
expansion or extirpate localized colonies. Effects discussed above would<br />
incrementally increase impacts when added to the impacts of these past and present<br />
activities. Roads improved or constructed for the proposed action are expected to<br />
incrementally add to these impacts while the treatments are underway, but these<br />
additional impacts are expected to cease following project completion as temporary<br />
roads are closed.<br />
Summary<br />
The alternatives ‘may adversely impact individuals, but not likely to result in a<br />
loss of viability in the Planning Area, nor cause a trend toward federal listing’.