Final Environmental Impact Statement

Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3
not generally burn could ignite and burn at unusually high temperatures. This could
result in a loss or degradation of plant habitat. This type of fire oftentimes has effects
such as deep soil heating and intensities that could also negatively affect suitable habitat.
Another effect of this alternative could be the eventual decrease of graminoid dominated
communities in the area as forested stands become denser and ponderosa pine continues
to encroach upon meadow areas. Pine encroachment into these habitats would continue
and may result in a loss of habitat for these species.
Noxious weed infestations are a risk for all rare plants, as exotics are often able to outcompete
native vegetation for available nutrients. The lack of additional disturbance
associated with the No Action alternative would reduce the possibility of noxious weed
infestations in the rare plant habitat. The potential for fire disturbance could impact
weeds as discussed below.
The effects to R2 Sensitive Species are discussed in detail in the Vestal Biological
Assessment/Biological Evaluation. In summary, all alternatives have a determination of
“May adversely impact individuals, but not likely to result in a loss of viability in the
Planning Area, nor cause a trend for federal listing.” for the three species which occur
or may occur in the Vestal project area.
There would be no direct effects to the 3, R2 sensitive plants which occur or which have
habitat within the project area; Viola selkirkii, Cypripedium parviflorum and Platanthera
orbiculata. There would be no damage to any unknown individuals from hazardous fuels
treatments, forestry treatments, or prescribed fire.
The possible indirect effect of Alternative 1 is the increase in the potential for large-scale
fire in the area as the number of dead and stressed trees increase. By not treating stands
infested with mountain pine beetle and reducing hazardous fuels, there would likely be an
increased risk for a large-scale, high intensity wildfire. Under such conditions, the moist
forested sites and riparian areas that do not generally burn could ignite and burn at
unusually high temperatures. This could result in a loss of sensitive plant habitat and
Viola selkirki, Cypripedium parviflorum and Platanthera orbiculata individuals. This
type of fire oftentimes has effects such as deep soil heating and intensities that could also
negatively affect suitable habitat.
The lack of additional disturbance associated with the No Action Alternative would
reduce the possibility of noxious weed infestations in the rare plant habitat. Noxious
weed infestations are a risk for all rare plants, as exotics are often able to out-compete
native vegetation for available nutrients and moisture. In addition, the treatment of such
infestations with herbicides might present a risk to rare plants if unknown occurrences are
inadvertently sprayed.
Range
This alternative would eventually decrease grassland communities/ forage production,
and limit grazing access. As forested ponderosa pine stands become denser and continue
to encroach upon grassland and meadow areas, the amount of available sunlight that will
reach the forest floor would decrease, thus decreasing grassland communities and the
amount of available forage. In addition, as these stands become denser and dead
mountain pine beetle infested trees fall to the forest floor, access through these stands
would decrease, which would also decrease the amount of available forage. Decreasing
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