Environmental 1mpact Statement for the Apache -Sitgreaves National Forests Plan

362 Pages·2008·5.38 MB·English

United States Environmental 1m pact
Department of
Agriculture
Forest Statement for the
Service
Southwestern
Region Apache -Sitgreaves
National Forests Plan
"Land. then. is n.ot merely soil;
it is a fountain of energy flowing
through a circui~ of soils. plants.
and animals."
Ar..do Leopo ld
IB87-1948
The Sand County Almanac
VICINITY MAP
o
Flagstaff
o
Albuquerque
Apache Sitgreaves
National Forests
o
Phoenix
o
Tucson
EI Paso
o
Proposed Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests Lend and Resource Management Plan
Apache, Coconino, Greenlee, and Nevajo Counties, Arizona
For Further Nick W. McDonough, Forest Supervisor
Information: Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests
P.O. Sox 640
Springerville, Arizona 05930
A Proposed Action and five elternatives for a Land and Resource
Management Plan (Forest Plan) for the 2,003,552 acre Apache-
Sitgreave:; National Forests are described and compared. The Proposed
Action (PA) and alternetives are:
PA - Responds to the recreation, soil and water, range, transport-
ation. landownership, and ORV management issues, and emphasizes
wildlife habitat management.
A - Emphasizes lowar managament intansity levels. It responds well
to the recreation, ORV, soil and water, and wildlife habitat
management issues.
B - This alternative is highly responsive to recreation and O~J
management, and responds to timber and transportation issues.
C - Highly responsive to the recreation and transportation issues,
responds to timbar and renge issues.
D - Attampts to meet Resource Planning Act objectives. Responds to
soil and watar, landownership, range, and transportation issues.
E - Projects current resourca management. Responds well to
transportation, unauthorized use, and public information.
Tho P,,\ constitutes the Forest Service preferred alternative. The
Forest Plan, when approved, will gUide future management of the
Forest and will ordinarily be ravised on a ten-year cycle or at leest
every fifteen years. Accomplishment of tha planning objectives is
contingent upon programmed funding by Congress.

1. PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION
Ovel'view 1
Qbjectives 2
Planning Process 3
Publ ic !ssu_e_s_._. . . _7
Reader's Guide 11
2. ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION
Overview 17
B~ul~~Reguirements 17
Alt!!oative DeveloQrnent Process 19
~lternatives Considered but Eliminated From Detailed Study 23
Benchmal'ks 24
I·lnii!!!YJ!LLeYll- . _24
Low Intensity Level 24
H~i mize ~.i!:llI.iL~Re~s_o_u_l'~c._e . 2_5
Maximize Present Net Value 25
Q!eal'tul'e Alternatives 26
Othal' Alternatives_Considered 26
Alternatives Considered in Detail 27
Pr.Q.llQsedAction Alterna~_i_ve_. . 3_0
~lternative A 35
Alternative B 40
Altel'native C 45
Alter!!!!llveD--ReA_. .__ . . 5_0
Alternative E--No Action 54
Comparison of Alternatives 58
eresent Net Value Analysis 90
Summary of Significant Environmental Effects 101
Adverse Envi ronmental Effects that Canno~_Be_A_v~o~i._d_e_d 1_09
3. AFFECTED ENVlRONI~ENT
Overview 111
Section A--Physical and Biological Setting 111
Section B--Social and Economic Setting 113
§ection C--Resoul'ce Elements 116
Racreation 116
ililderness 126
Visual Resou rce 128
CUltural Resoul'ce 129
Wildlife and Fish 131
Range 143
TimboI' and Firewood 145
Diversity 157
Soi land \l/ater 159
r-lnieral s 164
Lands and Special Uses 168
Research Natural Areas 171
Wild and Scanic Rivers 171
Protection 174
Facilities and Transportation 177
4. ErlVIRONt~ENTCAOLNSEQUENCES
Q~ervi~ . 133
Secti on A--Resource Considerati ons . 186
!l!.£!'!lation 186
Wilde£ness . 19;!
Visual Resource 195
gUltural Resources 196.
\'#ildLife and Fish . ._______ 197
Ranga . ~
Natur!.LAreas .___ 216
Ti!!1beL~!!!LEil'.!mQ2!! . .___ 217
Plant and Animal OiversitL_________ _ __ . . ~1
Soil and \'later .___________ 2Sg
1-11neral 0 . .____________ 233
Lands and Uses ,_, 2~
Protection 243
Faciliti~s and Transportation 248
§ec~ion S--Economic and Social~Qnsi~~~~ions 253
Section C--Other Considerations -, , g£iI
Sectl~.!!_D--Summ!rLELEff~ct§______________ 258
APPENDIX
~--Public Involvement 31§
§::-Fo!!~.e.LPt~J:li niL!,lodet . ~25
Readers' Guide
Areas Managed as Nilderness
Areas Managed as Wildernes~
Areas Managed as Wilderness
Areas Managed as Wilderness
Areas Managed as Wilderness
Areas f·lanagedas h'ilderness
Average Annual Sawtimber, Products, and Fuelwood Production in m·1BF for
Each Alternative in Periods 1 and 5
Summary of Range Management Characteristics by Alternative
Summary of Soil and Water Program Objectives by Alternatives in Period 5
Sumary of Recreation Management Characteristics by Alternative in Period 5
Percent Change from Existing Habitat Capability for Indicator SpeCies
Expected by the Fifth Deacade by Alternative
Average Annual Road l·lanagementProgram Characteristics for All Alternatives
Summary of Degree of Issue Resolution by Alternative
Relative Ranking of Issue Resolution by Alternative
Acreage of Management Intensity by Alternatives
Acreage Available by Alternative
Acres of Timber Harvest Methods in Period 1
Wild and Scenic River Recommendations
Resourco Outputs by Alternatives and Selected Benchmarks
Average Annual Cost by Alternatives and Selected Benchmarks
Resource Costs by Alternative and Banchmark
Resource Benefits by Alternatives and 8enchmarks 87
Value Analysis 91
Comparison of Alternatives with Max PNV Assigned Benchmarks 94
Receipts, Costs, Net Cash Flow 98
Income Transfer - Period 1 99
Averaga Annual Irretrievable Resource Commitments in the First Decade 108
by Alternetive
Percent Area in Vegetative Groups 113
PopUlation Trands for Primary Zone of Influence by Decade 115
ROS Classes 118
Dispersed Recreation Use by Activity Group 118
Miles of Trail by ROS Class 120
Oevelopad Recreation CapacitYlUse by Type of Site {19B4j 122
Developed Recreation Sites
Potential Developed Recraation Sites 124
Wilderness Management Areas 126
Wilderness Area Trails and Trail Management Level 127
Visual Quality Objective Acres 129
Number of Vertebrate Species on the Apache-SitgreavDs National Forests 132
Estimated Current Populations and Habitat Capability Trend of the 134
Management Indicetor Species
Percentages of Each Plent Community on the Forest
~!-
43 Projected Demand of Fish and Wildlife on the Apache-Sitgreaves N.F.'s 137
44 Project Supply of Fish and Wildlife Under Current Management 137
45 Federal or State Classified Species 138
46 Sensitive Plants Known or Suspected to Occur on the Apache-Sitgreaves N.F.'s 140
47 Fishery Hebitat on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests 141
48 r·'ajorVegetative Types, Acreages, and Capacities 143
49 Permitted Grazing - Updated 1985 143
50 Permittee Forage Dependency Percentages by Ownership Class 144
51 Summary Status for Allotments 144
51A Timber Productivity Classification 1413
52 Minimum and Optimum Levels for Reforestation 147
53 Timber Land Use Classification 148
54 Present Age Class Distribution of Timber on Tentatively Suitable Lands 150
55 10-Year Production (SoldJ on Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests 151
56 Thinning and Reforestation 152
57 Current Targets [RPA - Regional PlanJ 154
58 Current Timber and Fuelwood Targets (1980-85 RPA-Regional Plan) 156
59 Vagetation Types by Acres 157
60 Watershed Condition by Fifth Code Watersheds 160
61 Major Raservoirs within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests 162
62 Areas of Mineral Potential by Mineral Type and Rating 165
63 Mineral Potential Ratings - Criteria 166
64 Annual Common Variety Production 166
65 Common Variety Pits 167
66 Outstanding and Reserved Mineral Rights 167
67 Special Uses (1984J 169
68 Electronic Sites 169
69 1984 Acquisition 169
70 Corridor Exclusion and Avoidance Areas 171
71 Wild and Scenic Rivers 172
72 Road Maintenance, by Maintenance Level 178
72A Road Construction/Reconstruction Schedule 178
73 Summary of Buildings and Structures 180
74 Facility Construction/Reconstruction Needed Period 1-5 100
75 Average Annual Dispersed Use 18G
76 RoS Class Changes by Alternative 188
77 Average Annual Developed Recreation Use 190
78 Additions to Developed Recreation 191
79 Irretrievable Commitments in Dispersed Recreation 193
80 Irretrievable Commitments in Developed Recreation 193
81 Average Annual Wilderness Use 195
82 Average Annual Acres of Timber Harvest by Alternative 199
133 Percent of Forest in Vertical or Horizontal Vegetative Structures by 200
Alternative
Snag Numbers Needed to Maintain Woodpeckers at Designated Levels 201
Snag Numbers Needed to Maintain Both Average and Maximum Breeding 201
Densities
Percent of Unit with 1.8 Snags 20e
Percent of Diversity Units ALLocated to OLd Growth Prescriptions 203
By ALternetive
Big Game Forege to Cover Ratios by ALternative 204
Comparison of Percent of Optimum Acras in Satisfactory Riparian 205
Condition by the Second Decade
Habitat Effectiveness or the Freedom from Human Disturbence of WiLdlife 206
Percent Change from Existing Habitat Capability for Indicator Species 206
Expected by the Fifth Decade by ALternative
92 Atteinment of Arizone's Comprehensive PLan Objectives 210
93 Percent Change in Existing Supply of Wildlife Recreation 211
94 IrretrievabLe Loss of WiLdLife Recreation Opportunity 212
95 RangeLand CLasses on the Apacho-Sitgreaves NationaL Forest 212
96 Permitted end Capacity for alL ALternatives in Period 1 and 5 213
97 Grazing Management Intensity in M Acres by ALternative 214
98 The Number of Structures by ALternative Constructed-RepLaced per Decade 215
99 AnnuaL IrretrievabLe Loss of Range Capacity 216
100 SuitabLe Timber Acres by ALternative in M Acres 217
101 Average AnnuaL Long-Term Sustained YieLd Compared to Achievement of 210
90% of PotantiaL Growth in the Fifth Decade by Alternative
102 LTSYC by ALternative in t4CF 219
103 Age CLass by Distribution at Decade 20 219
104 Site Preperation Acres for Decade 1-5 by ALternative 219
105 Precommercial Thinning Acres for Decades 1-5 by Alternative 223
106 Commercial Thinning Acres for Decades 1-5 by ALternative 223
107 Even-agad Regeneration Cut Acres per Decade by Type of Cut 224
108 Percent of Each Diversity Unit ALloceted to OLd Growth Prescriptions 228
by ALternetive
109 Estimated Timber Production Losses Due to OLd Growth by Alternative
110 Diversity Index VeLues &Percent Chenge in Diversity Index 231
111 Average AnnuaL SoiL Loss Expressed as e Percent of Current Annual 234
Soil Loss
112 Unsetisfectory Wetershed Condition 235
113 Averege AnnueL Weter Yield 236
114 Forest-Wide Summary of Acres Open end Withdrawn for MineraL Entry/Lease 238
115 MineraL WithdrawaLs 239
116 Average AnnuaL Acres of FueL Treatment with Fire Menagement Funds 245
117 Comparison of Averege AnnuaL Fire Costs and Acres Burned for the First 245
Decede
118 Annual Lew Cooperetive Lew Enforce••nt Costs Averaged Over Periods 1-5 246
119 Average Road Reconstruction/Construction -
ArteriaL/Collector/LocaL 250
120 Average Annual Road Maintenance Funding 251
121 Trevelway Obliteretion 252
122 Total Miles by Decade by Alternetive After New Construction, Reconstruction 252
or Obliteration
123 Base-Year and Curent Forest Dependent Oase-level Figures ~ith 2S4
Categorical Percentages of the Total
124 Net Change in Output Levels, Relative to Alternative E for the Various 255
Alternatives
125 Percentage Change in Output Levels. Relative to Alternative E for the Various 255
Alternatives
126 Energy Consumed by Decade 5 258
127 Average Annual Irretrievable Resource Commitments in the First Decade 250
by Alternative
128 Analysis Areas in the Mt. Baldy Wilderness Area 330
129 Analysis Areas in the San Francisco Roadleos Areo 330
130 Analysis Areas in the Blue Range Primitive Area 330
131 Analysis Areas in Terry Flat [Escudilla !,lountain] 331
132 Analysis Areas in the Scenic Backdrop [Escudilla Mountain] 331
133 Analysis Areas in the Alpine Watershed 331
134 Analysis Areas in the Escudilla tlilderness Area 331
135 Analysis Areas in the Hells' Hole Roadless Araa 331
136 othar Ponderosa Pine Analysis Areas 332
137 Other Mixed Conifer Analysis Areas 332
138 Other Spruce-Fir end Aspen Analysis Areas Suitable for Timber Harvest 332
139 Other Miscellaneous Analysis Areas 333
140 Black River Canyon Roadlsss Area Analysis Areas 333
141 Center Fire Roadless Area Analysis Area 333
142 Bear Wallow Wilderness Area Analysis Areas 333
143 Nolan Roadless Area Analysis Areas 333
144 Campbell Blue Roadless Area Analysis Areas 333
'lcJ,~') l~otherHubbard Roadless Area Analysis Areas 334
146 Painted Bluffs Roadless Area Analysis Areas 334
147 IHtchell Peak Roadless Area Analysis Areas 334
148 Pipestem Roadless Area Analysis Areas 334
149 Salt House Roadless Area Analysis Areas 334
150 Hot Air Roadlass Area Analysis Areas 335
151 Sunset Raadlcss Area Analysis Areas 335
152 Leonard Canyon ROadless Analysis Aras 335
153 Chevelon Canyon Roadless Area Analysis Area 335
154 Oescriptiens of Range r'lanagementIntensiti0& 335
155 Two Examples of Integrated Prescriptions 337
156 List of FOP.PLANOutputs 33G
157 l3enefit Values faI' Outputs 343
158 List of FORPLAN Costs/Activities 345
159 Supply and Projected Future Use 34C
160 Objective Functions Used in Benchmarks and Alternatives 3SD
181 Timber Legal and Policy Constraints Used in Benchmarks and Alternatives 3::30
162 Timber Floor and Ceiling Constraints Used in Benchmarks 351