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