Final Environmental Impact Statement

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Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 result in a more open recreation forested setting under the No Action alternative and vice versa for the action alternative. Soils and Hydrology This section discusses the affected environment and environmental consequences of the No Action and proposed action alternatives for soils and hydrologic resources. It summarizes the Vestal Soil and Watershed specialist report, located in the project file. Field Surveys The field survey for the Vestal project was completed over several years, beginning in 2007. The goal of the fieldwork is to classify streams, identify watershed problem areas and asses the condition of the soils. Stream classification consists of identifying whether a stream is perennial, intermittent or ephemeral. Watershed problems need to be identified so the appropriate correction measures are prescribed. The soil information is needed to assess the condition of the soils from past activities and is needed for the cumulative effects analysis. Most of the blue line streams, as display on seven and half minute United States Geologic Survey (USGS) Quads were visited in the field. Areas visited for the soils assessment were distributed throughout the project area and across different soil map units. The results of the field work identified stream type, watershed problem areas and soils condition. Affected Environment - Soils There are 22 different soil map units within the Vestal project area. Eight (8) of the soil map units comprise less than 1% of the project area combined; BrB, HgB, HgD, HoD, MhA, Pt, VpC and W. These eight are not discussed further. Five soil map units, BtE, BuE, BvC, RkG and RlG, comprise 85% of the project area and the other nine soil map units occupy approximately 15%. Soil map units within the project area are listed in Table 49. 150 Table 49. Soils in the Vestal Project Area (USDA NRCS 2011) Map Unit Symbol Map Unit Name Percent of Project BsB Bullflat-Cordeston silt loams, 2 to 9 percent slopes 1% BtE Buska-Mocmont-Rock Outcrop, 10-40 percent slope 19% BuE Buska-Rock Outcrop, 10-40 percent slope 31% BvC Buska-Virkula, 2-15 percent slope 21% CvB Cordeston, 2-10 percent slope 1% CwB Cordeston-Marshbrook, 0-6 percent slope 2% HeE Heely, 9-30 percent slope 1% HfC Heely-Cordeston, 6-15 percent slope 1% MsC Mocmont, 2-12 percent slope 1% MtE Mocmont-Rock Outcrop, 10-40 percent slope 3% PaE Pactola-Virkula-Rock Outcrop, 10-40 percent slope 3%
Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 Map Unit Symbol Map Unit Name Percent of Project RgG Rock Outcrop-Buska, 40-80 percent slope 2% RkG Rock Outcrop-Mocmont, 40-80 percent slope 9% RlG Rock Outcrop-Pactola, 40-80 percent slope 5% Soil Health Assessment Current conditions of the soils were observed when five (5) soil map units were visited in the field in 2007 and 2010. They were units with symbols BtE, BuE, BvC, CwB and HfC. These units represent 74% of the VPA. The goal was to find previously disturbed areas to see if there are any residual effects from past activities. Eleven (11) sites were observed. At nine (9) sites the R2 Soil Health Monitoring/Assessment Protocol was used and the findings were that all sites that were visited had Properly Functioning Soil Health Ratings. The other two (2) sites used the new National Soil Monitoring Protocol and there was not any detrimentally disturbed soil found anywhere along the transect (USDA Forest Service 2009b). All areas had excellent ground cover, infiltration was excellent and no erosion was occurring. Soil Erosion Erosion hazard is an indication of the risk of soil loss associated with disturbance. Soil map units with the symbols RgG, RkG and RlG have a Severe Erosion Hazard Rating (SEHR). These units occur on steep slopes of 40-80 percent and occupy approximately 16% of the project area. The EHR is severe because of the steep slopes. The majority (57%) of soils have a moderate EHR. Approximately 27% of soils have a slight EHR. Soil Compaction All soils are subject to compaction when conditions are right, but some are more prone to compaction than others. Activities with heavy equipment on soils can change the characteristics of the soils, resulting in compaction and causing more runoff or resulting in poor plant growth. Nutrient Removal Forest Plan standard 1102 sets requirements for soils with topsoil less than one-inch, organic matter less than two percent, or rooting depth less than 15 inches. In the Vestal project area, none of the soil map units contain topsoil organic matter of less than two percent or have rooting depths of less than 15 inches. There are eight (8) soil map units that have a large portion of the unit with topsoil thinner than one (1) inch. They are BtE, BuE, BvC, MsC, MtE, RgG, RkG and RlG and comprise 91% of the Vestal project area. Environmental Consequences - Soils Soil Erosion – Direct and Indirect Effects “Severe erosion can impair long-term soil productivity if soils are heavily disturbed on shallow or highly erodible soils. Evidence of severe erosion is rills or pedestals,” (USDA Forest Service 1996a). 151
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Final Environmental Impact Statement

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