Final Environmental Impact Statement

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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 126
Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 the amount of available forage for livestock and wildlife, may result in an increased level of use in those areas that remain accessible. With all of the above, this could make it more difficult to meet the Forest Plan Guideline 2505 with the current grazing permits. Noxious Weeds Noxious weed populations would be limited to current infestations unless disturbance occurs from natural events, such as large-scale fire. Noxious weed infestations are known to increase with large fire events. The lack of treatment of hazardous fuels would lead to the potential increase of a large-scale high intensity wildfire, thus increasing the potential for a large-scale outbreak of noxious weeds. Mature stands of timber are common in the project area and comprise large contiguous areas of forest that are similar in structure. This provides the potential for wildfire and beetle infestation, both of which could play a role in the spread of noxious weeds. An increase in dead and down trees resulting from beetle kill could increase the potential for wildfires to spread and burn with increased intensity. This would lead to large areas of bare ground on which weeds could become established and compete with more desirable species. As trees mature and canopy cover and needle cast increases, existing grass/forb communities may decrease in health and vigor as light needed for photosynthesis is reduced. This hampers the ability of these communities to recover from intense fires. When the canopy cover is opened up due to wildfire or MPB kill, grass/forb communities may not be able to out-compete noxious weeds in areas where infestations already exist. As a result, these infestations are likely to increase. Alternative 2 Botany Rare plant species with suitable habitat occur in similar habitats throughout the project area. These habitats are generally areas that receive additional moisture (riparian areas, drip lines around rock outcrops, etc.), aspen and/or paper birch stands, or have suitable habitat in cool air spruce drainages. The exception to this would be some Botrychium species that often have a variety of preferred habitat (open meadows, old roadbeds/trails, skid trails, etc.) that typically have had some level of disturbance. All species will be analyzed by habitat type in the effects analysis below. Impacts to the rare plant species may be direct impacts (i.e. trampling, mechanical damage, etc.), or the impacts may be more indirect such as a change in the microclimate from treatments, which may result in a loss of habitat. It is unlikely there would be direct effects from mechanical treatments to habitat located in granite outcrops (inaccessible by equipment and would unlikely burn), spruce forests (protected by design criteria), or riparian areas (protected by design criteria and unlikely to burn intensively). Rare plant habitat in granite outcrops, riparian areas, and hardwood stands are expected to benefit indirectly from the treatments proposed in Alternative 2 due to the reduction in potential for large-scale fire. Hardwood (aspen, paper birch) stands are expected to benefit from the proposed treatments in this alternative. There are 557 acres of proposed hardwood treatments (Hardwood Conversion, Hardwood Release) and likely many acres of hardwood inclusions within ponderosa pine stands. Treatment of hardwood stands would remove 127
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Final Environmental Impact Statement

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