Final Environmental Impact Statement

Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement
Table of Contents
SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ i
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1
Document Structure ...................................................................................................... 1
Background .................................................................................................................... 1
Location .......................................................................................................................... 4
Management Direction ................................................................................................. 4
Purpose and Need for Action ..................................................................................... 12
Proposed Action........................................................................................................... 12
Decision Framework ................................................................................................... 13
Public Involvement ...................................................................................................... 13
Issues ............................................................................................................................. 14
CHAPTER 2: COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING THE
PROPOSED ACTION .................................................................................................... 16
Alternatives Considered in Detail .............................................................................. 16
Alternative 1 – No Action ........................................................................................ 16
Alternative 2 – Proposed Action............................................................................. 16
Design Criteria............................................................................................................. 24
Monitoring ................................................................................................................... 24
Alternatives Not Considered in Detail ....................................................................... 25
Comparison of Alternatives........................................................................................ 27
CHAPTER 3: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSEQUENCES ......................................................................................................... 33
Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions ................................................ 33
Forest Vegetation......................................................................................................... 33
Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 33
Cover Types ............................................................................................................... 33
Ponderosa Pine.......................................................................................................... 34
Very Large Sized Trees .............................................................................................. 35
Late Succession.......................................................................................................... 36
Mountain Pine Beetle ................................................................................................ 36
Hardwoods................................................................................................................. 37
Table of Contents