Final Environmental Impact Statement

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 Table 50. HUC 12 Watershed within the Vestal Project Area HUC 12 Watershed % of Watershed Number Watershed Name Acres in the VPA 101201090201 Upper Beaver Creek 22,753 1% 101201090601 Ruby Creek-French Creek 29,291 64% 101201090602 Stockade Lakes-French Creek 19,926 74% 101201090603 Glen Erin Creek-French Creek 17,419 28% 101201090804 Upper Grace Coolidge Creek 19,639 2% 101201090901 Headwaters Spring Creek 23,108 4% 101201090903 Newton Fork-Spring Creek 24,423 15% (USDA NRCS 2009) In 2011Watershed Condition Framework (WCF) (USDA Forest Service 2011a) was implemented by the Forest Service. It is a comprehensive approach for classifying watershed condition, proactively implementing integrated restoration in priority watersheds on national forests and grasslands, and tracking and monitoring outcomebased program accomplishments for performance accountability. Watershed condition is the state of the physical and biological characteristics and processes within a watershed that affect the soil and hydrologic functions supporting aquatic ecosystems. There are four (4) watersheds that have a substantial portion of their area within the Vestal project area, Ruby Creek-French Creek, Stockade Lakes-French Creek, Glen Erin Creek-French Creek and Newton Fork-Spring Creek. All are rated Class 2 watersheds, “Functioning at Risk”. Watershed condition classification is the process of describing watershed condition in terms of discrete categories (or classes) that reflect the level of watershed health or integrity. The three watershed condition classes that are directly related to the degree or level of watershed functionality or integrity; 156 Class 1 = Functioning Properly – exhibit high geomorphic, hydrologic, and biotic integrity relative to their natural potential condition. • Riparian/wetland areas that are functioning properly exist when adequate vegetation, landform, or large woody debris is present to dissipate stream energy associated with high waterflow, thereby reducing erosion, improving water quality, etc. Class 2 = Functioning at Risk – exhibit moderate geomorphic, hydrologic, and biotic integrity relative to their natural potential condition. • Riparian/wetland areas that are in functional condition, but one or more existing soil, water, or vegetation attributes makes them susceptible to degradation. Class 3 = Impaired Function – exhibit low geomorphic, hydrologic, and biotic integrity relative to their natural potential condition. • Riparian/wetland areas that clearly are not providing adequate vegetation, landform, or large woody debris to dissipate stream energy associated with high flows, and thus are not reducing erosion, improving water quality, etc.
Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 (USDA Forest Service 2011c) Floodplains A floodplain is the flat area on either side of a stream or river that is susceptible to inundation by floodwaters. Floodplains slow flood velocities and decrease erosion because they are by nature wide and flat, thus allowing for shallower and slower water. Thus, floodplains provide for flood moderation, water quality protection, ground water recharge, and wildlife habitat, among other benefits. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has mapped 100-year floodplains across the nation (FEMA 1998). There are approximately 267 acres of mapped 100-year floodplains within the Vestal project area on National Forest. Mapped 100-year floodplains are located along the following streams and drainage ways: French Creek, Glen Erin Creek, Laughing Water Creek, Loues Creek, North Fork French Creek, Ruby Creek, Tenderfoot Creek and Willow Creek. Wetlands and Riparian Wetlands were mapped during a national effort and recorded in the National Wetland Inventory (NWI). There are approximately 67 acres of wetlands within the Vestal project area. One of the mapped wetlands is Bismarck Lake, classified as Lacustrine Systems. The term Lacustrine is related to the word ‘lakes’ and thus a lacustrine wetland is, by definition lake-associated. The Lacustrine system includes wetlands and deepwater habitats that are greater than 20 acres and have less than 30 percent cover of persistent vegetation (Water Word Glossary 2009). The rest of the mapped wetlands are classified as Palustrine Systems. "Palustrine" comes from the Latin word "palus" or marsh. Wetlands within this category include inland marshes and swamps as well as bogs, fens, tundra and floodplains. Palustrine systems include any inland wetland, which lacks flowing water and contains ocean derived salts in concentrations of less than 0.05%. Lakes There is one lake within the Vestal project area, Bismarck Lake. It is 25 acres in size and is form by a dam constructed by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) on an unnamed tributary to French Creek. The outflow from the Bismarck Lake flows for approximately 600 feet and then empties into Stockade Lake in Custer State Park. Streams There are an estimated 135 miles of streams within the Vestal project area. Sixty-seven percent (67%) or 91 miles are on private land, leaving 44 miles on National Forest. Of the 44 miles of streams on National Forest, 33 % are perennial, 12% are intermittent and 55% are ephemeral (See Map 9 in Appendix A). Streams on National Forest within the Vestal project area are identified on Map 9, Appendix A. Identification of whether each stream on National Forest is Ephemeral, Intermittent or Perennial was based on field survey and review of USGS Quad maps. Perennial and intermittent streams have a 100 foot WIZ along them and will be identified 157
Page 1 and 2:
VESTAL PROJECT United States Depart
Page 3 and 4:
Vestal Final Environmental Impact S
Page 5 and 6:
Page 7 and 8:
Page 9 and 10:
Page 11 and 12:
Page 13 and 14:
Page 15 and 16:
Page 17:
OHV Off Highway Vehicle POL Product
Page 20 and 21:
Page 23 and 24:
Page 25 and 26:
Page 27 and 28:
Page 29 and 30:
Page 31 and 32:
Page 33 and 34:
Page 35 and 36:
Page 37 and 38:
Page 39 and 40:
Page 41 and 42:
Page 43 and 44:
Page 45 and 46:
Page 47 and 48:
Page 49 and 50:
Page 51 and 52:
Page 53 and 54:
Page 55 and 56:
Page 57 and 58:
Page 59 and 60:
Page 61 and 62:
Page 63 and 64:
Page 65 and 66:
Page 67 and 68:
Page 69 and 70:
Page 71 and 72:
Page 73 and 74:
Page 75 and 76:
Page 77 and 78:
Page 79 and 80:
Page 81 and 82:
Page 83 and 84:
Page 85 and 86:
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Page 99 and 100:
Page 101 and 102:
Page 103 and 104:
Page 105 and 106:
Page 107 and 108:
Page 109 and 110:
Page 111 and 112:
Page 113 and 114:
Page 115 and 116:
Page 117 and 118:
Page 119 and 120:
Page 121 and 122:
Page 123 and 124:
Page 125 and 126:
Page 127 and 128: Vestal Final Environmental Impact S
Page 177: Vestal Final Environmental Impact S
Page 229 and 230:
Page 231 and 232:
Page 233 and 234:
show all

Final Environmental Impact Statement

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?