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W36.294 MONTANASTATELIBRARY OF'2deaLe .49 C19983 308640014 04949 C DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT LEVENGOODELKGAMEFARM KALISPELL,MONTANA Documentscollection - 30 1998 Montanastatelibrary HLiErLiENA,MEO‘N6TtAhNAAVE5.9S20 C MontanaFish,Wildlife&Parks Region1 490NorthMeridianRoad Kalispell,Montana 59901 c 9 '*£! I* y 9 TABLEOFCONTENTS Page SUMMARY 1 INTRODUCTION 1 OBJECTIVES 1 PUBLICPARTICIPATION 2 PROPOSEDACTIONANDALTERNATIVES 2 PURPOSEANDNEEDOFTHEPROPOSEDACTION 5 ROLEOFFWPANDDOL 5 AFFECTEDENVIRONMENT 5 ENVIRONMENTALCONSEQUENCES 6 EACONCLUSION 7 MITIGATIONMEASURES 7 PARTI. GAMEFARMLICENSEAPPLICATIONINFORMATION 10 PARTII.EEANDVEIFRINOINTMIEONNTSALREVIEW 1122 PHYSICALENVIRONMENT 13 LandResources 13 Air I4 Water 15 Vegetation 17 Fish/Wildlife 18 HUMANENVIRONMENT 20 NoiseEffects 20 LandUse 21 Risk/HealthHazards 22 CommunityImpact 24 PublicServices/Taxes/Utilities Aesthetics/Recreation Cultural/HistoricalResources SummaryEvaluationofSignificance SUMMARYEVALUATIONOFSIGNIFICANCECRITERIA PARTIII.NARRATIVEEVALUATIONANDCOMMENT PARTIV. EACONCLUSION FIGURES FFIIGGUURREE21.. GLoecnaetriaolnLoofcPartioopnosfoerdtLheevPernogpooosdedGLaemveenFgaoromdGameFarm APPENDICES AAPPPPEENNDDIIXXAB PFFriiiggvuuarrteee21P..roGLpoeecnraettryiaoAlnsLsooefcsPasrtmiooepnnotsfoeCrdhteLhceekvlPiersnotgpooosdedGaLemveenFgaoromdGameFarm FFiigguurree34.. GFleonoedrpallaiLnayMoauptffoorrtLheevePnrgopooosdeGdaLmeeveFnagromodGameFarm a c SUMMARY ENVIRONMENTALASSESSMENT PROPOSEDLEVENGOODELKGAMEFARM INTRODUCTION MontanaFish,WildlifeandParks(FWP)isrequiredtoperformanenvironmentalanalysisinaccordancewith theMontanaEnvironmentalPolicyAct(MEPA)foreachproposalforprojects,programs,legislation,andother dmRpeuartljoeeocsrremsoaisfcntMteiooownnishtdeaeontfnthasietf[ayrtAeatRhnMged]ovi1eme2vpra2anl.cmu4tae3st0ne)wt.oesuinFlgvndiWirfPboiecnaumnssetienlgytsniaaeflfinfcvieaicmntrtpioaanncgnmtdetshnwetohafeqlutaahalepsirrts,yoepsoaofsssmtaehedenctohgsnuasm(meEaqeAnusef)eannricnvme.it,rheoFEngWAmasePnmatwero(eufAladadrmlimsnpoielsirutcfsreoeanrdtsmiinvtageo moredetailedenvironmentalimpactstatement(EIS). WhenpreparinganEA,FWPreviewsenvironmentalimpactsoftheProposedAction,impactsoftheNoAction Alternative,andimpactsofotheralternativeactionswhichincluderecommendedand/ormandatorymeasures t(ostimpiutliagtaitoens)thwehipcrohjercetd’suciempiamcptasc.tsAofmtihteigPatreodpoEsAedinAcctliuodne.saTlhteernEatAivmesaywiatlhsoenrfeorccoemambleendreaqupirreefmeernrteds alternativefortheFWPdecisionmaker. € BaseduponitsreviewoftheLevengoodElkGameFarmapplication,FWPhaspreparedamitigatedEA. OBJECTIVES ThisEAhasbeenpreparedtoservethefollowingpurposesinaccordancewithFWPMEPArules(ARM 12.2.430): • toensurethatFWPusesnaturalandsocialsciencesinplanninganddecisionmaking; • tobeusedinconjunctionwithotheragencyplanninganddecision-makingprocedurestomakea determinationregardingtheProposedAction; • toassistintheevaluationofreasonablealternativesandthedevelopmentofconditions,stipulations, andmodificationstotheProposedAction; • todeterminetheneedtoprepareanEISthroughaninitialevaluationanddeterminationofthe significanceofimpactsassociatedwiththeProposedAction; • toensurethefullestappropriateopportunityforpublicreviewandcommentontheProposedAction; and • toexamineanddocumenttheeffectsoftheProposedActiononthequalityofthehumanenvironment. € i PUBLICPARTICIPATION PublicinvolvementintheEAprocessincludesstepstoidentifyandaddresspublicconcerns. TheDraftEA willbeavailableforpublicreviewandcommentfromAugust3,1998until5pmonAugust24,1998atthe Region1FWPofficelistedbelow.SubmitallcommentsregardingthisEAtothesameaddress. BrianSommers Fish,Wildlife&Parks 490NorthMeridianRoad Kalispell,Montana 59901 (406)752-5501 PROPOSEDACTIONANDALTERNATIVES PROPOSEDACTION TheFWPreceivedacompletedapplicationonApril5,1998tobuildanew45acreElkGameFarm approximately4milessouthandeastofKalispell,Montana.ThesiteislocatedinFlatheadCountyalongAshley Creek(Figures1and2).Thegamefarmwouldincludenewquarantineandhandlingfacilitiesaspartofthe proposedproject. Theproposedgamefarmwouldbelicensedforamaximumof60elkanimals.Thelandwithintheproposed projectareaiscurrentlyagriculturallandusedforhayproduction. Thepurposeoftheproposedprojectisto diversifyagriculturalproductionandcomplementotherprivaterecreationalactivitieslocatedontheproperty (privategamebirdfarm,troutpond,andtrapshootingclub). FenceconstructionwouldcomplywithproposedchangestotheFWPgamefarmrules,andwouldinclude8- foothigh,tightlockmeshgamefencesupportedbywoodenpostsor2%-inchsteelpipesset3feetintothe groundandspacednotmorethan24feetapart.Theapplicantsplantobreed,sell,anddisposeofdomestic elkinaccordancewithMontanagamefarmanddiseasecontrolrequirementsstipulatedinMontanastatuteand administrativerules. Thegamefarmwouldprovidemeat,antlers,andtrophysales,aswellaselkbreeding stock. Feeshootingofelkwouldnotbeconductedatthesite. ALTERNATIVES Onealternative(NoActionAlternative)isevaluatedinthisEA. UndertheNoActionAlternative,FWPwould notissuealicensefortheLevengoodElkGameFarmasproposed.Therefore,nogamefarmanimalswould beplacedontheproposedgamefarmarea. ImplementationoftheNoActionAlternativewouldnotpreclude otheractivitiesallowedunderlocal,stateandfederallawstotakeplaceattheproposedsite. 2 ^ IaalplpeyyE| l:. 1& —u— 5*_L| \jIOWOIJNi Fie. 1. GLeenveernagloodloGcaamteionFarfnoijr Ktahleisppreolplojsed MT. 3 Fig. 2. Location of proposed Levengood Game Farm, Kalispell, MT. 1= phase 1 construction 2= phase 2 construction 073101*4*15' fSlO-MMClBSTOJU6SMl03 4 PURPOSEANDNEEDOFTHEPROPOSEDACTION TheproposedLevengoodElkGameFarmisacommercialenterprisetoprovidemeat,antlers,andtrophy sales,aswellaselkbreedingstockforthegamefarmmarket. ROLEOFFWPANDDEPARTMENTOFLIVESTOCK(DoL) wFpirWtehpPatrhiiesntMghoeannlteaEandAaauEgnnedvneicrryoTinitnmleepnr7te5ap,larCQihunaagpltitehtiyrsC1Eo,AuPnafcroitrl2t(hMeEoQnpCtr)aonpMoaEsCePodAdpeHroaAjnencdntob.toaTothkeidsand(doMcCFuAWm)PeannsttdaitsFuwtWroiPrtytrerunelqienusiaurcnecdmoeerrndtAasnRfcoMer 12.2.428etseq. FWPsharesregulatoryresponsibilitiesfornewandexpandinggamefarmswiththeDoL. TheDoLis responsibleforregulatingthehealth,transportationandidentificationofgamefarmanimals. Duringthe ianpsppleicctaitoinonofprtohceespsr,opaollsequdaqruaanrtainnteianreefaacipllitayn.sNaondliscpeencsiefiscaartieoinsssaureedswuibtmhioutttesductohtahpeprDoovLalfoarnadpipnrsopveacltiaonn.d AFFECTEDENVIRONMENT TheproposedLevengoodElkGameFarmareawouldultimatelycomprise45acresofexistingagriculturalland locatedinFlatheadCountyapproximately4milessouthandalittleeastofKalispell,Montana(Figure1).The srriaetnmegaieis.nlioBncoagtthe1d5aaacpcaprrreeotsxaiomkfaetrtehalisnydp1r0lo0apneyrdatroydwsniennrcolrhutadhevosefarAespshrilidveeaytnecCertsereobukot,rpdaoentrrdii,nbgugttaahrmeyetporbotihpredosFfeladartmghaeaamnddeRpfiravirevrma..teAttrparpessehnoto,titnhge Theproposedgamefarmwouldbeconstructedin2phases.Thefirstphasewouldencloseapproximately10 acresandincludequarantineandhandlingfacilities.Phase2wouldencloseanotheradjoining35acres. ASlolmsuerroofutnhdeinagrelaanhdassabreeepnrisvuabtdeliyviodwedneindtoasnmdaluls2e0dapcrriemarruirlaylfroersiadgernitciaulltluortse.iTnhcleudpirnogpcorsoepds,elpkasftaurrme,liaensdwihtahyi.n anareazonedasAgricultural-20. Approximately12neighboringresidencesarelocatedwithina1-mileradiusofthesite.Thissectionsummarizes theprimaryenvironmentalresourcesintheprojectarea. LANDRESOURCES Thesiteissituatedapproximately2,900feetabovemeansealevel.Thegeneraltopographyoftheproposed gamefarmexpansionisnearlylevelvalleyfloor. WATERRESOURCES T6fprhromoeimplso2iestseeexidnisosagtriptanphgmrwooeefxlifFlmalsaratomtenhlleytiahe3sed0bp0Leraot-kp1wee,er0et(0ynF0iwtgfoheuueerlte1dn01os0)re-.tryhAveseahortlfhaetenyhdeprCA5ors0peh0ole-seykeyedfaClrgroewfaes1mkoen,oodrf1pt/alh2ramtmi.oinlW(jeeoFilEsnlMoAutdhtemehpatFophflssa,tthaherreeeFavlid2sa9etR6dihvea1ea9rnd.9d6RA)3il.l5ve8Woraffatetenehtdre. VEGETATIONRESOURCES vTMyeopgsietctaoalftstiphoeenclieaexnisdsatslsuoanrlgrootnuhgnedsAiesnhwglatethyeerCwprareyoespkoisnaecnlddudgWeaembalevaecfrkarcSmoltostuiotgenhwiostooidnt,hagecrhisocokuulettchuhreaarlnrdpyr,tohdheuacwFttlihaootnrh.ne,RaidrpeaRdri-ivoaesnrieatronddthowegewntoolroatdnh,d. 5 willows,cattails,andsedges.Pastureandhaylandstypciallycontainalfalfa,quackgrass,smoothbrome, orchardgrass,andtimothy.Dandelionsandcloverarealsocommon. WILDLIFERESOURCES ThisareasupportswildlifetypicalofagriculturalandriparianareasintheFlatheadValley.Commonspecies includewhite-taileddeer,waterfowlsuchasmallardsandCanadageese,uplandgamebirdssuchasring- neckedpheasantandHungarianpartridge.Commonnongamewildlifespeciesincludewesternmeadowlarks, commonflickers,black-billedmagpies,meadowvoles,terrestrialgartersnakes,andsavannahsparrows.The areaisnotcriticaldeerwinterrangenoranimportantbiggamemigrationcorridor. Theareaisnotconsideredhabitatforgraywolves,grizzlybears,peregrinefalcons,whoopingcrane,orbull trout,specieslistedasthreatenedorendangeredbythefederalgovernment.Thebaldeagleisayear-long residentandalsomigratorythroughthisarea.Theclosestactivebaldeaglenestislocatedapproximatelyamile northandalittlewestoftheproposedprojectareaalongtheFlatheadRiver. Thebaldeagleisnowscheduled fordelisting.Theperegrinefalconmightpassthroughthisareaonamigratorybasis. Thebulltroutisa pFlraotphoesadedRisvepre.ciAesshlfeoyrCFreedeerkadlolyeslinsottinsguapspotrhtrheaabtietnaetdfoarnbdulloctcrouurts(iTn.lWiemaivteedr,nuFmWbPerpserisn.Fcloatmhme)a.dTLhaekreeaanrde nootherFederallylistedthreatenedorendangeredspecieslikelytooccurinthisarea.Otherlargecarnivores suchasmountainlionsandblackbearsareinfrequentvisitorstotheLowerValleyarea. ENVIRONMENTALCONSEQUENCES OnlyresourcesthathavepotentialadverseeffectsfromtheProposedActionaresummarizedinthissection. AdetaileddiscussionofenvironmentalconsequencesiscontainedinPartIIofthisEA. LANDRESOURCES Theconstructionandoperationofa60-elkcapacitygamefarmcouldreducelandandsoilresourcevaluesdue tocompactionorheavygrazing.Theseimpacts,however,canbereducedoreliminatedbyadjustingstocking rates;rotating,resting,andirrigatingpastures;supplementalfeedingofelk. WATERRESOURCES TheProposedActionofgrazingupto60elkon45acresofpastureislikelytohavenoadverseaffectonwater resources.AlloftheproposedgamefarmliesinZoneB,abovethe100-yearfloodplain.Thegamefarmlies between300and1,000feetfromAshleyCreek. VEGETATIONRESOURCES TheProposedActionplanstoplaceupto60adultelkwithinthe45acreenclosureforamaximumstocking densityof0.75acresperadultelk.Itisestimatedthattheaverageadultelkconsumesabout11poundsof forageeachdayandthatannualforageconsumptionwouldbeabout4,015poundsofforageperadultanimal or240,900pounds/elkfarm/year.Assuminganaverageof5,000pounds/acre(2.5ton/acre)offorage productionwithintheenclosure,the225,000poundsofforagewouldalmostmeettheyear-longforageneeds of60adultelk.Supplementalfeedwouldprobablyberequiredduringthewinter.Productiononsiteis dependentonmanagementandcould improvewithirrigationandfertilization.Therewouldbenodirect impactstonativevegetationbecauseithasalreadybeenlostfromthissite. WILDLIFERESOURCES TheProposedActionisnotexpectedtosignificantlychangethediversityorabundanceofnongamespecies livinginthisarea.Theelkenclosurewilleliminateuseofthe45acresbywhite-taileddeer.Theproposedgame farmisnotlargeenoughtosignificantlyinfluenceanyseasonalmovementofwhite-taileddeerthroughthis area.Thedailymovementsofafewdeermaybechangedtoaminordegree,butthiswouldnotbesignificant. UseoftheexistinglandbyothercommonspeciesintheareasuchasCanadaGeese,mallards,andring- necked pheasantswouldprobablydecreaseorbeeliminatedwhenthegamefarmisatfullcapacity. 6