bald hill prescribed burn project environmental...

Bald Hill Prescribed Burn Project Environmental Assessment

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APPENDIX A – REFERENCES Arkle, R.S., Pilliod, D.S., 2010, Prescribed fires as ecological surrogates for wildfires- A stream and riparian perspective: Forest Ecology and Management, v. 259, p. 893-903. Catalog No: 1956 Barrett, S.W. 1984. Fire History of the River of No Return Wilderness: River Breaks Zone. Final Report. Systems for Environmental Management. Missoula, Montana, USA. Barrett, S.W. 1987. Fire History of the Rapid River Drainage - New Meadows Ranger District - Payette National Forest. Unpublished report on file at the USDA Forest Service, Payette National Forest, New Meadows Ranger District, New Meadows, Idaho, USA. Barrett, S.W. 1988. Fire History and Fuels Assessment – South Fork Salmon River – Krassel Ranger District – Payette National Forest. Unpublished report on file at the USDA Forest Service, Payette National Forest, Krassel Ranger District, McCall, Idaho, USA. Barrett, S.W. 1994. Fire Regimes on the Payette National Forest – Bear Analysis Area. Consulting Research Forester, Final Report. McCall, Idaho, USA. Barrett, S.W. 2000. Fire History and Fire Regimes – South Fork Salmon River Drainage – Central Idaho – Payette & Boise National Forests. Unpublished report on file at U.S. Forest Service, Payette National Forest, Krassel Ranger District, McCall, Idaho, USA. Battaglia, Mike; Smith, Frederick W.; Shepperd, Wayne D. 2009. Predicting mortality of ponderosa pine regeneration after prescribed fire in the Black Hills, South Dakota, USA. International Journal of Wildland Fire. 18: 176-190. Cochran, P.H.; Barrett, James W. 1993. Long-term response of planted ponderosa pine to thinning in Oregon's Blue Mountains. Western Journal of Applied Forestry. 8(4): 126-132. Cochran, P.H.; Barrett, J.W. 1999. Growth of ponderosa pine thinned to different stocking levels in Central Oregon: 30 year results. Res. Pap. PNW-RP-512. Portland, OR: Pacific Northwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Faurot, M. and D.C. Burns. 2007.Biological Assessment for the Potential Effects of Managing the Payette National Forest in the South Fork Salmon River Section 7 Watershed on Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon, Snake River Steelhead, and Columbia River Bull Trout and Biological Evaluation for Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Volume 28 Ongoing and New Actions, Payette National Forest. File Reference EM.11.0068 Havalina, D. 1998. Krassel Ranger District, Prescribed Fire Monitoring, Indian Creek, Four Mile Creek. Unpublished Report. Hockaday, J. A. 1968. History of the Payette National Forest. Manuscript on file, Supervisor’s Office, Payette National Forest. Chapter 13 - Fire Control. p. 141-154. Keane, R. E.; Ryan, K. C.; Veblen, T. T.; A., Craig D.; L., Jessie; Hawkes, B. 2002. Cascading effects of fire exclusion in the Rocky Mountain ecosystems: a literature review. General Technical Report.


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RMRSGTR-91. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 24 p. Keeling, E.G., A. Sala, and T.H. DeLuca. 2006. Effects of fire exclusion on forest structure and composition in unlogged ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir forests. Forest Ecology and Management 237:418-428. Mehl, C. A., R. Steele, S. Warren, B. Holt, J.B. Haufler, and G. J. Roloff. 1998. The Ecosystem Diversity Matrix for the Idaho Southern Batholith Landscape. Boise Cascade Corporation, Boise, Idaho, USA. Montana/Idaho Airshed Group 2009 Morgan, P. and R. Parsons. 2001. Historical range of variability of forests of the Idaho Southern Batholith Ecosystem. Final Report. Department of Forest Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, and Fire Sciences Laboratory, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula, Montana, USA. Nelson, R. L. 2010. Deposition of Fine Sediment in the Salmon River Watershed, Payette and Boise National Forests, Idaho. Statistical Summary of Intragravel Monitoring, 1975-2009. File Reference EF.15.0072. Nelson, R. L. and G. T. Bonaminio. 2008. Deposition of Fine Sediment in the Salmon River Watershed, Payette and Boise National Forests, Idaho. Statistical Summary of Intragravel Monitoring, 1983-2007. File Reference EF.15.0057. Oliver, C.D. and B.C. Larson. 1996. Forest Stand Dynamics. Update Edition. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 521 pp. Sloan, J. P. 1998. Historical Density and Stand Structure of an Old-Growth Forest in the Boise Basin of Central Idaho. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Boise, Idaho. Staats, R. 2004. Analysis of Fuel Treatment Alternatives on National Forest Land Adjacent to the Community of Yellow Pine. Unpublished report on file at Krassel Ranger District. Steele, R., R. D. Pfister, R. A. Ryker, and J. A. Kittams. 1981. Forest habitat types of central Idaho. U.S. Forest Service General Technical Report INT-114, Ogden, Utah, USA. Steele, R., S. F. Arno, and K. Geier-Hayes. 1986. Wildfire patterns change in central Idaho's ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir forest. Western Journal of Applied Forestry 1:16–18. Turner, A. L. 2001. Forest Songbirds in the Blue Mountains, Oregon: Habitat Relationships and Response to Prescribed Burning. Unpublished M. S. Thesis, Boise State University, Idaho. 117 p. USDA Forest Service. 2003a. Southwest Idaho Ecogroup Final Environmental Impact Statement. USDA Forest Service, Payette, Boise, and Sawtooth National Forests, Idaho, USA. USDA Forest Service. 2003b. Payette National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. Payette National Forest, McCall, Idaho, USA. USDA Forest Service. 2007. South Fork Salmon River Subbasin Noxious and Invasive Weed Management Program - Record of Decision. Payette National Forest, McCall, Idaho, USA.


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USDA Forest Service. 2008. Roadless Area Conservation. National Forest System Lands in Idaho. Final Environmental Impact Statement.


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APPENDIX B – GLOSSARY - A - Air quality-The composition of air with respect to quantities of pollution therein; used most frequently in connection with “standards” of maximum acceptable pollutant concentrations. Alternative - In an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or Environmental Assessment (EA), one of a number of possible options for responding to the purpose and need for action. Analysis area – One or more areas grouped for purposes of analysis based on common impacts, effects, and social or economic factors. - B - Biological opinion (BO)- A document resulting from formal consultation that states the opinion of USDI Forest Service or NOAA fisheries as to whether a federal action is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of listed species or their habitat. Broadcast burning - Burning forest fuels as they are, with no piling or windrowing. - C - Canopy – The more-or-less continuous cover of branches and foliage formed collectively by the crown of adjacent trees and other woody growth. Climax conditions - The highest ecological development of a plant community capable of perpetuation under the prevailing climactic conditions. Coarse woody debris (CWD) - Pieces of woody material having a diameter of at least 3 inches and a length greater than 6 feet (also referred to as large woody debris, or LWD). Cover type - The current or existing vegetation of an area, described by the dominant vegetation. Crown fire - A fire that advances from top to top of trees or shrubs (DeBano et al. 1998). Cultural resources - Cultural resources include sites, structures, or objects used by prehistoric and historic residents or travelers. They are non-renewable resources that tell of life-styles of prehistoric and historic people. Cultural resources within the Forests are diverse and include properties such as archaeological ruins, pictographs, early tools, burial sites, log cabins, mining structures, guard stations, and fire lookouts. Cumulative effects - Impacts on the environment that result from the incremental impact of an action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions. Cumulative effects can result from individually minor but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time. Current condition- The present condition of a resource or resource area. - D - DBH (diameter at breast height) – Diameter at breast height. The diameter of a tree measured 4 feet 6 inches above the ground. Degrade - To degrade is to measurably change a resource condition for the worse within an identified scale and time frame. Where existing conditions are within the range of desired conditions, “degrade” means to move the existing condition outside of the desired range. Where existing conditions are already outside the range of desired conditions, “degrade” means to change the existing condition to anything measurably worse. The term “degrade” can apply to any condition or condition indicator at any scale of size or time, but those scales need to be identified. This definition of “degrade” is not intended to define degradation for the State of Idaho as it applies to their Antidegradation Policy (IDAPA 16.01.02.051).


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Desired Condition (DC) - Also called Desired Future Condition, a portrayal of the land, resource, or social and economic conditions that are expected in 50-100 years if management goals and objectives are achieved. A vision of the long-term conditions of the land. Disturbance - Any event, such as wildfire or a timber, sale that alters the structure, composition, or function of an ecosystem. Down or downed logs - Fallen trees and large logs lying on the forest floor. - E - Ecosystem - A naturally occurring, self-maintained system of living and non-living interacting parts that are organized into biophysical and human dimension components. Ecosystem health - A condition where the components and functions of an ecosystem are sustained over time and where the system’s capacity for self-repair is maintained, such that goals for ecosystem uses, values, and services are met. Endangered species - Designated by the FWS or NOAA Fisheries, an animal or plant species that has been given federal protection status because it is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its natural range. Endemic – A plant or animal native to the local area. Executive Order (EO) - Executive orders are official documents, numbered consecutively, through which the President of the United States manages the operations of the Federal Government. - F - Fine fuels - Cured grasses, leaves, needles, twigs, and small branches that ignite easily and carry fire rapidly. Fire regimes - The characteristics of fire in a given ecosystem, including factors such as frequency, intensity, severity, and patch size. while lethal fires are generally of highest intensity and severity with the largest patches of mortality. The others fall in between. Fire intensity - The effects of fire on the above-ground vegetation generally described in terms of mortality. Fire return interval - The average time between wildfires in a given ecosystem. Fire scar - A healing or healed-over injury caused or aggravated by fire, on a woody plant. Fire severity - Fire effects at and below the ground surface. Describes the impacts to organic material on the ground surface, changes to soils, and mortality of below-ground vegetative buds, roots, rhizomes, and other organisms. FOFEM - First Order Fire Effects Model – A model used to predict the direct consequences of prescribed fire and wildfire (Reinhardt et al. 1997). Forage - Plant material (usually grasses, forbs, and brush) that is available for animal consumption. Forbs - Broadleaf ground vegetation with little or no woody material. Forest plan – In this document, the Payette National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (2003). Fuel - Any substance or composite mixture susceptible to ignition and combustion. Fuel loading -The weight per unit area of downed woody material (Brown et al. 1982). Fuel model-A set of numerical values that describe a fuel type for the mathematical model that predicts spread rate and intensity. The parameters that can be varied in a fuel model are: loading, surface area-to-volume ratio, fuel bed depth, and heat content of fuel and moisture of extinction. Fuel moisture-The amount of moisture in the fuel. Dead fuels can absorb or lose moisture from the air. Small diameter fuels can change in moisture content rapidly, because they have large surface area compared to their volume. Fuel profile -The properties that describe wildland fuel including chemistry, compaction, continuity, loading, moisture content, and size. The fuel profile consists of aerial fuels as well as surface and ground fuels.


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Fuel treatment-The rearrangement or disposal of natural or activity fuels to reduce the fire hazard. Fuels are defined as both living and dead vegetative materials consumable by fire. Fuelbreak-Areas manipulated for the common purpose of altering surface fuels, decreasing ladder fuels, and reducing tree densities (opening the tree canopy) to reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire and the potential for crown fire (adapted from Agee et al. 1999). - G - Geographic Information System (GIS) - A computer system that stores and uses spatial (mappable) data. Goal - As Forest Plan management direction, a goal is a concise statement that helps describe a desired condition, or how to achieve that condition. Goals are typically expressed in broad, general terms that are timeless, in that there are no specific dates by which the goals are to be achieved. Goal statements form the basis from which objectives are developed. Ground cover – All vegetative material within 3 feet of the exposed soil surface as well as any additional litter, rock, and rock fragments that are in contact with the soil surface. Ground fire –A fire that burns the organic material in the upper soil layer (DeBano et al. 1998). Guideline - As Forest Plan management direction, a guideline is a preferred or advisable course of action generally expected to be carried out. Deviation from compliance does not require a Forest Plan amendment (as with a standard), but rationale for deviation must be documented in the project decision document. - H - Habitat - A place that provides seasonal or year-round food, water, shelter, and other environmental conditions for an organism, community, or population of plants or animals. Habitat type – The aggregate of all areas that support or can support the same primary vegetation at climax. Harvest - Removal of timber (or a portion of an animal population) to achieve a desired condition. Herbaceous - Referring to grasses and small annual and perennial plants. Historical Range of Variability (HRV) - The natural fluctuation of healthy ecosystem components over time. In this document, HRV refers to the range of conditions and processes that likely occurred prior to settlement of the area by people of European descent (around the mid 1800s), and that would have varied within certain limits over time. Hydrologic - Refers to the properties, distribution, and effects of water. “Hydrology” is the study of water; its occurrence, circulation, distribution, properties, and reactions with the environment. Hydrologic Unit (HU) - A hierarchal coding system developed by the U.S. Geological Service to map geographic boundaries of watersheds of various sizes. Hydrophobic soils - Soil that is water repellant due to the intermixing of mineral soil and decomposing organic matter; or organic matter that partially covers the soil particles. - I - ID (Interdisciplinary) Team - A team of individuals with skills from different disciplines that focus on the same task or project. Indicator - In effects analysis, a way or device for measuring effects from management alternatives on a particular resource or issue. Indirect effects - Impacts caused by an action but occurring later in time or farther removed in distance. Insignificant effect - An insignificant effect is one that cannot by detected, measured, or evaluated in any meaningful way. Irretrievable commitments - Losses of production or use for a period of time. An example is suited timberland being used for a skid trail. Timber growth on the land is irretrievably lost while


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the land is a skid trail, but the timber resource is not irreversibly lost because the land could grow trees again in the near future. Irreversible commitments - Permanent or essentially permanent resource uses or losses that cannot be reversed, except in the extreme long term. Examples include minerals that have been extracted or soil productivity that has been lost. Issue - A public or agency concern about a specific action or area that is addressed in the NEPA process. - L - Ladder fuels -Continuous vertical vegetation that connects surface fuels to the crown fuels of overstory trees, forming a ladder by which a fire can spread into tree or shrub crowns (DeBano et al. 1998). Landform - A natural feature of the land surface such as a mountain, valley, or ridge. Landslide prone - Land that has a probability of mass movement greater than or equal to 10 percent during a period of 100 years. Landtype - A portion of the landscape resulting from geomorphic and climatic processes with defined characteristics having predictable soil, hydrologic, engineering, productivity, and other behavior patterns. Landtype associations - A grouping of landtypes similar in general surface configuration and origin. Long-term - For environmental effects, greater than 100 years, unless otherwise stated.. See short-term and temporary. - M - Maintain - When used in a management goal or objective for biological and physical resources, “maintain” means to stay within the range of desired conditions. The context is that resource conditions are already within their desired range, and the expectation is that management actions to achieve goals or objectives maintain resource conditions within their desired range in the planning period. When used in a standard or guideline for biological and physical resources, “maintain” means that current conditions are neither restored or degraded, but remain essentially the same. The context is that resource conditions may or may not be in their desired range, and the expectation is that maintenance management actions do not degrade or restore current conditions. This is an important distinction because most goal or objective management actions cannot be designed to achieve desired conditions for all resources. Specific actions are designed to achieve desired conditions for specific resources, but may simultaneously have effects on those or other resources. The intent behind “maintain” when used in a standard or guideline is to keep those effects from degrading resource conditions; i.e., moving conditions from functioning properly to functioning at risk, or making conditions measurably worse when they are currently functioning at risk or not functioning properly. See definitions for “degrade” and “restore” in this Glossary. For Recreation, Scenic Environment, Heritage, Lands, Special Uses, and Wilderness resources, “maintain” means to continue a current or existing practice, activity, management strategy, resource condition, or level of use. For physical improvements managed under the Roads and Facilities programs, “maintain” means to keep the road or facility in a usable condition. For resource inventories, databases, plans, maps, or other documents related to all resources, “maintain” means to periodically update these items to reflect current conditions and/or status. Management Area - A land area with similar management goals and a common prescription, as described in the Forest Plan.


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Management direction – Activities that must be carried out to meet the goals of agency management. Management Indicator Species (MIS) - Representative species whose habitat conditions or population changes are used to assess the impacts of management activities on similar species in a particular area. MIS are generally presumed to be sensitive to habitat changes. Management Prescription Category (MPC) - Management prescriptions are defined as, “Management practices and intensity selected and scheduled for application on a specific area to attain multiple use and other goals and objectives” (36 CFR 219.3). MPCs are broad categories of management prescriptions that indicate the general management emphasis prescribed for a given area. They are based on Forest Service definitions developed at the national level, and represent management emphasis themes, ranging from Wilderness (1.0) to Concentrated Development (8.0). The national MPCs have been customized during Forest Plan revision to better fit the needs and issues of the Southwest Idaho Ecogroup Forests. Measurement - In effects analysis, a way or device for measuring effects from management alternatives on a particular resource or objective. Mitigation - Actions to avoid, minimize, reduce, eliminate, or rectify the impact of a management practice. Monitoring - The process of collecting information to evaluate if objectives and anticipated results of a management plan are being realized, or if implementation is proceeding as planned. Mortality (stand) - The number or volume of trees that died because of fire, insects, disease, climatic factors, or competition from other trees or vegetation. - N - National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) - The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 requires environmental analysis and public disclosure of federal actions. National Fire Plan (NFP) - Strategic and implementation goals, budget requests and appropriations, and agency action plans to address severe wildland fires, reduce fire impacts on rural communities, and ensure effective firefighting capability in the future. National Forest Management Act (NFMA) – A law passed in 1976 as an amendment to the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act requiring the preparation of Regional Guides and Forest Plans and the preparation of regulations to guide that development. National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) - A list of cultural resources that have local, state, or national significance maintained by the Secretary of the Interior. No action (alternative) - The most likely condition expected to exist if current management practices continue unchanged. The analysis of this alternative is required for federal actions under NEPA. Noxious weed - A state-designated plant species that causes negative ecological and economic impacts to both agricultural and other lands within the state. - O - Objective - As Forest Plan management direction, an objective is a concise time-specific statement of actions or results designed to help achieve goals. Objectives form the basis for project-level actions or proposals to help achieve Forest goals. The time frame for accomplishing objectives, unless otherwise stated, is generally considered to be the planning period, or the next 10 to 15 years. More specific dates are not typically used because achievement can be delayed by funding, litigation, environmental changes, and other influences beyond the Forest’s control. Overstory – That portion of the trees, in a Forest of more than one story, forming the upper or uppermost canopy. - P -


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Potential Vegetation Group (PVG) – Potential vegetation types grouped on the basis of a similar general moisture or temperature environment. Prescribed fire - Any fire ignited by management actions to meet specific objectives. Project area - The area that includes a project or proposed activities that are in the planning stages. Proposed action - A proposal made by the Forest Service or other federal agency to authorize, recommend, or implement an action to meet a specific purpose and need.

- R - Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) - A framework for stratifying and defining classes of outdoor recreation environments, activities, and experience opportunities. The settings, activities, and opportunities for obtaining experiences are arranged along a continuum or spectrum divided into six classes--primitive, semiprimitive nonmotorized, semiprimitive motorized, roaded natural, rural, and urban. Regeneration – The renewal of a tree crop, whether by natural or artificial means. Also, the young crop itself, which commonly is referred to as reproduction. Restore - For biological and physical resources, restore means to repair, re-establish, or recover ecosystem functions, processes, or components so that they are moving toward or within their range of desired conditions. For the Recreation, Scenic Environment, Heritage, Lands, Special Uses, Wilderness, Roads and Facilities resources, restore means to use management actions to re-establish desired resource conditions. Revegetation - The re-establishment of plant cover, either naturally or by manually seeding. Riparian - Relating to the banks of natural watercourses such as rivers or streams. Riparian Conservation Areas (RCAs) - Portions of watersheds where riparian-dependant resources receive primary emphasis, and management activities are subject to specific goals, objectives, standards, and guidelines. RCAs include traditional riparian corridors, perennial and intermittent streams, wetlands, lakes, springs, reservoirs, and other areas where proper riparian functions and ecological processes are crucial to maintenance of the area’s water, sediment, woody debris, nutrient delivery system, and associated biotic communities and habitat. - S - Scale - Defined in this framework as geographic extent; for example, region, sub-regional, or landscape scale. Scoping - The process the Forest Service uses to determine, through public involvement, the range of issues that the planning process should address. Section 106 review- A review required by the National Historic Preservation Act to determine effects of a federal action on cultural resources. Section 7 Consultation - Consultation required by the Endangered Species Act with the appropriate jurisdictional agency for a listed species. Sediment - Any solid material (mineral and organic) that has been moved to a water body and is being transported or has been deposited. Seral - The unique characteristics of a biotic community that is a developmental, transitory stage in an orderly ecological succession involving changes in species, structure, and community processes with time. Short-term - For environmental effects, greater than less than 10 years unless otherwise stated. See temporary and long-term. Silvicultural prescription - The method selected to manage a forest stand. Silvicultural prescriptions are broken into broad types, including even-aged and uneven-aged. Even-aged prescriptions include clearcut, seed tree, and shelterwood. Uneven-aged prescriptions include


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individual tree selection and group selection. Other non-regeneration prescriptions include thinning and sanitation/salvage cuttings. Silviculture - The care and tending of stands of trees to meet specific objectives. Snag - standing dead tree. Species composition - The different tree species within a stand, usually expressed as a percentage within each age class. Stand - An aggregation of trees or other vegetation occupying a specific area and sufficiently uniform in composition (species), age arrangement, and condition as to be distinguishable from the Forest or other vegetation of land cover on adjoining areas. Stand density - A measure of how crowded a stand is. Measures of density include: trees per acre, square feet of basal area, stand density index (SDI), and percent of maximum SDI. Stand initiation - A stage of stand development following a disturbance when new individuals and species continue to appear for several years (Oliver and Larson 1996). Standard - As Forest Plan management direction, a standard is a binding limitation placed on management actions. It must be within the authority and ability of the Forest Service to enforce. A project or action that varies from a relevant standard may not be authorized unless the Forest Plan is amended to modify, remove, or waive application of the standard. State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) - A person appointed by a state’s Governor to administer the State Historic Preservation Program. Succession - The replacement in time of one plant community with another. The prior plant community (or successional stage) creates conditions that are favorable for the establishment of the next stage. These changes often occur in a predictable order. More specifically, the gradual and natural progression in composition and structure of an ecosystem toward a climax condition or stage. Successional stage – A stage or recognizable condition of a plant community that occurs during its development from bare ground to climax. Surface fire - A fire that burns only surface fuels (DeBano et al. 1998). Sustainability - The ability to maintain a desired condition or flow of benefits over time. - T - Temporary - For environmental effects, 0 to 10 years unless otherwise stated. See short-term and long-term. TES species - Threatened, endangered, and sensitive species. - U - Uncharacteristic wildfire - A fire that is burning in a way that does not emulate historical effects. This may include fire intensity, severity, size, and landscape patterns. Underburn - A light broadcast burn under an existing forest canopy. A fire prescribed to reduce fuels without damaging existing trees. Understory - The trees and other woody species growing under a more-or-less continuous cover of branches and foliage formed collectively by the upper portion of adjacent trees and other woody growth. - V - Visual Quality Objective (VQO) - Categories of acceptable landscape alteration measured in degrees of deviation from the natural-appearing landscape. The categories include Preservation, Retention, Partial Retention, Modification, and Maximum Modification. - W - Watershed - The entire land area that contributes water to a drainage system or stream.


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Wildland fire - Any fire not involving a home or other structure that occurs in the wildland. Wildland/Urban Interface (WUI) - The line, area, or zone where structures and other human developments meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuel.


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APPENDIX C – ACRONYMS BAER – Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation CC – Canopy Closure CEQ – Council on Environmental Quality CFR – Continuing Federal Register CWD – Coarse Woody Debris DBH – Diameter at Breast Height DN – Decision Notice EA – Environmental Assessment EFSFSR – East Fork South Fork Salmon River EIS – Environmental Impact Statement FONSI – Finding of No Significant Impact FMO – Fire Management Officer FRI – Fire Return Interval FRID – Fire Return Interval Departure HU – Hydrologic Unit IRR – Idaho Roadless Rule MPC – Management Prescription Category NAAQS – National Ambient Air Quality Standards NEPA – National Environmental Policy Act NFMA – National Forest management Act NFS – National Forest System PDF – Project Design Feature PVG – Potential Vegetation Group RA – Roadless Area RCA – Riparian Conservation Area ROD – Record of Decision ROS – Recreation Opportunity Spectrum SHPO – State Historic Preservation Office USDA – United States Department of Agriculture VQO – Visual Quality Objective WUI – Wildland-Urban Interface


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APPENDIX D PAST PRESENT AND REASONABLY FORESEEABLE ACTIONS This table identifies activities that were used in specialists’ cumulative effects analysis for the Bald Hill Prescribed Burn Project EA. X = actions considered in applicable specialists analysis.

ACTIONS FIRE AND FUELS FORESTED

VEGETATION

PAST

Boise NF – Hazardous Fuels Treatments X X IDL Hazardous Fuels Reduction X X Payette NF – Hazardous Fuels Treatments X X Timber Harvest on PNF X Fire Suppression X X Wildland Fires X X

PRESENT

Development of Private Land X Firewood Harvest X

REASONABLY FORESEEABLE FUTURE

Boise NF – Hazardous Fuels X X Payette NF – Fuels Reduction Projects X X

DESCRIPTIONS OF PAST ACTIONS BOISE NF – HAZARDOUS FUELS TREATMENTS

Yellow Pine #1 – 40 acres – Thin, hand pile, pile and burn – T19N, R8E, Section 29 – Between EFSF Road and the city limits of Yellow Pine. Implemented 1997/1998. Yellow Pine #2 and #3 – 98 acres – Underburn – T19N, R8E, Section 29 – From the city limits of Yellow Pine south to the Yellow Pine Campground. Implemented 1998. Yellow Pine #4 – 58 acres – Thin, hand pile, pile burn and underburn – T19N, R8E, Section 29 – From EFSF Road south to the Yellow Pine Campground. Implemented 2000/2001. Yellow Pine #5 – 100 acres – Thin, hand pile, pile burn – T19N, R8E, Section 28 and Section 33 – On the east side of Johnson Creek Road from the city limits of Yellow Pine to the Golden Gate Campground. Implemented 2004.

IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF LANDS HAZARDOUS FUELS REDUCTION PROJECTS Treated 319 acres – 267 acres were thinned, pruned and pile burned, remaining 52 acres was a prescribed underburn. The prescribed burn and 83 acres of the thin, prune, and pile burn was at Eiguren Ranch – the remainder was within the Yellow Pine townsite. Implemented 2001 through 2004.

PAYETTE NATIONAL FOREST – FUEL REDUCTION PROJECTS Parks Eiguren Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project -This prescribed burning project treated approximately 2,000 acres to reduce hazardous fuels near Yellow Pine and Eiguren Ranch. Implemented in 2004.


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Fitsum Dutch Oven Prescribed Burn - Fitsum-Dutch Oven Hazardous Fuels Project – Prescribed fire on 2,500 acres in a 5,100 acre project area – T19N, R6E, Sections 2-6 and 11, T20N, R6E, Section 11. Implemented in Spring 2006. Yellow Pine and Eiguren Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project - #1 –Approximately 450 acres were treated to reduce hazardous fuels around the Wildland-Urban Interface areas in Yellow Pine and Eiguren Ranch. This was a mechanical thinning project that included helicopter logging, tractor logging, pre-commercial thinning and piling and burning of activity fuels.

TIMBER HARVEST ON PAYETTE NATIONAL FOREST Timber harvest in the project area and 5th field hydrologic units has occurred. Forest records indicate that approximately 204 acres were logged in the project area from 1960 through the early 1980’s.

FIRE SUPPRESSION The Payette National Forest began compiling fire statistics in 1956. The project area lies within the upper and lower south fork sub-watersheds and 240 natural ignitions have occurred in these watersheds since 1956. The average number of recorded ignitions per year nearly doubles between 1956 and 2008. This is likely the result of improved detection and record keeping. 97% of these natural ignitions occurred in July, August and September. The project area has experienced an average of 1.15 natural fire ignitions per year; the highest number of natural ignitions per year was 5. Despite an average of 4.4 ignitions per year in the sub-watersheds, fires were kept relatively small until the 21st century due to fire suppression efforts and relatively low fuel loads. Based on pre-settlement fire frequency, as many as 20 natural fires may have been precluded from the drainage during the 20th century as a result of effective fire exclusion (Barrett 2000).

WILDLAND FIRES Due to the buildup of fuels from fire exclusion, a number of wildfires were unable to be suppressed in the past decade in and adjacent to the project area. Some of the most notable have been the East Zone Complex, the Cascade Complex, and the Profile fire in 2007 and the Van Meter Fire in 2006. These wildfires have affected 12,983 acres in the project area since 2004. Burn severity mapping and field verification indicate indicates that the area burned with a mix of severities.

DESCRIPTIONS OF PRESENT ACTIONS DEVELOPMENT OF PRIVATE LAND (INCLUDES YELLOW PINE AND EIGUREN RANCH SUBDIVISION)

Yellow Pine and the Eiguren Ranch are private inholding adjacent to the Payette and Boise National Forest. They are small communities (less than 30 year round residents), they are continuing to grow. The number of new houses and summer time residents is increasing.

FIREWOOD HARVEST Many of the Valley County, Yellow Pine, and Eiguren Ranch residents collect firewood from the immediately area. All species of trees are taken, although Douglas-fir, western larch, and ponderosa pine are species of preference. Trees within 200-300 feet of open roads are the most likely to be cut for firewood. As the preferred species become limited in availability, grand fir and Englemann spruce are utilized to a greater degree. There is currently no restriction on the size of material that can be cut for firewood in the area.

DESCRIPTIONS OF FUTURE ACTIONS BOISE NF – HAZARDOUS FUELS PROJECTS


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Golden Antimony– 744 acres – 698 acres of prescribed fire and 42 acres of mechanical thinning, hand piling, and burning. Located on Golden Gate Hill, south of Yellow Pine on the Johnson Creek Road. To be implemented in 2010.

PAYETTE NATIONAL FOREST – FUEL REDUCTION PROJECTS Yellow Pine and Eiguren Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project #1 - Approximately 60 acres are planned to be broadcast burn in the spring of 2010 under the Yellow Pine – Eiguren Ranch Hazardous Fuels Reduction EA decision from 2007. The burn in planned on the East side of Eiguren Ranch. The objective is to reduce activity fuels from the mechanical thinning that was completed in 2008 and 2009. Yellow Pine and Eiguren Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project #2 – Up to 4,743 acres are planned to be broadcast burned in the spring or fall of 2011 under the Yellow Pine – Eiguren Ranch Hazardous Fuels Reduction EA decision from 2007. This burn would be a maintenance burn of the Parks-Eiguren Prescribed Burn.


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APPENDIX E MONITORING AND EVALUATION REQUIREMENTS MONITORING PLAN SUMMARY SHEETS PROGRAM: NOXIOUS WEED TREATMENT & INVENTORY Activity, Practice or Effect: Noxious Weed Monitoring Project Name: Bald Hill Prescribed Burn Project Location: East Fork South Fork Salmon watershed, Krassel Ranger District Objectives: Manage noxious weed spread associated with from prescribed burns. Parameters: Follow Forest Plan standards and guidelines - monitor listed noxious weed presence determine if dispersion and transport is occurring. Methodology: Annually after prescribed fire operations conduct monitoring for listed noxious weed presence and spread. Frequency/Duration: Post -burn, annually for 5 years. Data Storage: Noxious weed inventory and monitoring files. Analysis/Report: Annual result reporting for District noxious weed treatment & monitoring. Cost: $500 Responsible Individual: District Noxious Weed Treatment & Monitoring program staff. Responsible Official: District Ranger Prepared by: Clem Pope, District Resource Staff Date: March 2010


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PROGRAM: VEGETATION AND FIRE AND FUELS Activity, Practice or Effect: Evaluate the effectiveness of treatments to ensure that Forest Plan - Appendix A, project, silvicultural prescription and burn plan objectives are being met. Project Name: Bald Hill Prescribed Burn Project Location: Bald Hill Prescribed Burn Project Area Objectives:

Determine if prescribed burning is meeting project, silvicultural prescription, and burn plan objectives.

Identify items that need to be adjusted on subsequent burns in order to meet objectives. Parameters: Items that will be monitored include: Large Tree mortality/survival, Change in Canopy Cover, CWD consumption/retention, Snags, mortality of trees by size class, mortality of trees by species. Methodology: Plots will be installed pre burn and remeasured within one year post burn. In addition, walk through examinations will be conducted. Findings and recommendations for future implementation for this project will be documented in a written report. Frequency/Duration: Pre burn and Post burn (within one year) Data Storage: District fire and/or timber management sale folders. Analysis/Report: Standard fuel treatment analysis form (District form) Cost: 30 days X $150/day = $4500 per burn block. This includes pre and post monitoring and the write-up of a findings and recommendations report. Responsible Individual: District Fuels specialist Responsible Official: District Ranger Prepared by: Alex Enna, Developmental Fuels Specialist Date: March 2010


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PROGRAM: SOIL, WATER AND FISHERIES RESOURCE Activity, Practice or Effect: Riparian Conservation Area (RCA) buffers Project Name: Bald Hill Prescribed Burn Project Location: East Fork South Fork Salmon watershed, Krassel Ranger District Objectives: To determine effectiveness of design features intended to minimize the effects of prescribed fire on RCAs, and potential effects on associated instream Watershed Condition Indicators. To satisfy FMGU02 guideline from the Forest Plan Parameters: Estimated percent by burn class for the specific drainage within the burn block. Estimated percent by burn class within selected RCAs. Methodology: Watershed and fisheries specialists will participate in a post burn over flight to photo document burned areas within the drainage as well as estimate percentages of burn severities (as described by Boyer, 1980). They will also identify areas for ground visits to complete burn severity surveys focusing primarily on RCAs. Frequency/Duration: Effectiveness monitoring will occur at a minimum the first year after implementation and then at year 3 and 5 unless findings indicate sites either were not affected by prescribed burning or have stabilized and re-vegetated to their natural potential. Data Storage: Krassel Ranger District, and PNF Supervisor Office Analysis: Comparison of current conditions with post-treatment conditions. Report: An annual summary report will be provided to the District Ranger Cost: RCA design feature assessment GS-11 fisheries biologist and hydrologist 1 day each immediately following burn = $700. Burn severity assessments GS-9, 4 days for over flight assessment and field visits = $1,200. GS-7 5 days for over flight assessment and field visits and report write-up = $1,200 Responsible Individual: Journey Level Hydrologist and Fisheries Biologist Responsible Official: District Ranger, Krassel District Ranger Prepared by: Jim Fitzgerald, Hydrologist and Caleb Zurstadt, Fisheries Biologist Date: 3/4/10


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PROGRAM: AIR QUALITY AND SMOKE MANAGEMENT Activity, Practice or Effect: Air Quality Monitoring Project Name: Bald Hill Prescribed Burn Project Location: East Fork South Fork Salmon watershed, Krassel Ranger District Objectives: Manage smoke impacts to Yellow Pine from prescribed burns. Parameters: Follow Forest Plan standards and guidelines ASST01, 02, 03 and ASGU01, 02, 04. Monitor smoke column to determine if dispersion and transport of smoke is occurring as forecast. Methodology: During prescribed fire operations make observations of actual smoke transport and dispersion in comparison to predicted. Make go/no-go decisions based on consultation with the Montana/Idaho Airshed Group. Use Best Available Control Measures regarding Smoke Management when possible and practical. Frequency/Duration: During and post burn while smoke is being produced from burn. Data Storage: Burn plans at Krassel District office Analysis/Report: Include a copy of smoke clearance from Montana/Idaho Airshed Group in district burn plan. Cost: $0 – this will be incorporated into implementation costs of burning. Responsible Individual: Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Responsible Official: District Ranger Prepared by: Alex Enna, Developmental Fuels Specialist Date: March 2010


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APPENDIX F MODELING ASSUMPTIONS FIRE, FUELS AND AIR QUALITY

MODELING PROGRAM: Fuels Management Analyst (FMA) Plus (Fire Program Solutions/Acacia Services. 1999-2009. Fuels Management Analyst (FMA) Plus Edition 3.0.47). CrownMass Module.

PURPOSE OF THE MODEL: The purpose of the CrownMass program within Fuels Management Analyst Plus is: to facilitate the calculation of the loading of foliage and woody biomass in tree species from plot data consisting of a minimum of tree species, tree diameter breast high, tree height, tree canopy ratio and tree structural stage, the calculation and display of the vertical fuel profile within tree crowns by one foot segments, the estimation of crown fire assessment parameters such as stand height, canopy base height and canopy bulk density, and the calculation and display of the vertical fuel profile within tree crowns.

METHODOLOGY: The CrownMass program uses a process developed at the Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory to estimate the canopy base height, the canopy ceiling height, and the canopy bulk density. This process requires the assignment of the Running Mean Window, 1-hr Contribution to Crown Fire and the Critical Canopy Bulk Density. CrownMass also contains algorithms based on the work of Alexander (1988), Ryan and Reinhardt (1988), Beukema et al. (1999) Rothermel (1972), Andrews (1986), Andrews (1989) and Finney (1998).

ASSUMPTIONS: CrownMass assumes that a fire will spread vertically through the densest portion of the canopy. To use the native segment bulk densities can yield a rather discontinuous distribution of segment bulk densities so a running mean of these value is calculated. The default number of segments used for this running mean is 15. The maximum of this running mean is the value used by CrownMass as canopy bulk density. 1-hr Contribution to Crown Fire: From the tree list data input, the weight is determined for the needle and the 1-hour time lag live and the 1-hour time lag dead fuel categories. Current assumptions (Reinhardt et. al. 2000) are that the needle fuel loading and 50% of the 1-hour time lag crown fuel loading contribute to the flaming portion of crown fire. The proportion of the 1-hour time lag crown fuel loading that contributes to the flaming portion of crown fire can be set here. The program default is 0.50. The sum of the needle fuel loading and the assumed proportion of 1-hour time lag fuel loading will be referred to as the crowning assessment canopy fuel (CACF). Critical Canopy Bulk Density: The canopy base height and the canopy ceiling height are determined by CrownMass as the lowest and highest segments respectively where the running mean segment bulk density is greater than the minimum crown bulk density to sustain vertical propagation of fire.

DATA STORAGE: Inputs/outputs for modeling runs are found in the project record.

LIMITATIONS: Canopy bulk density characterizations are an average of real-time stand conditions, and are entirely based on stand inputs.

OUTPUT: Model output includes the determination of canopy base height and canopy bulk density. From this information, effects of varying management strategies of tree density and surface fuel loading can be assessed to estimate the attainment of proposed or defined management objectives.

PREPARER: Alex Enna, Developmental Fuels Specialist DATE: March 2010


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APPENDIX G - RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS TABLE PAYETTE FOREST

Bald Hill Prescribed Burn Project

30-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT ANALYSIS PER 36 CFR 215

ISSUE IDENTIFICATION/ RESOLUTION STRATEGY The attached Issue Resolution Strategy is provided to help facilitate compliance with 36 CFR 215. The intended use of this table is to

organize the public’s comments, identify analysis requirements, and to determine if a comment is substantive.

Substantive comments are defined as “comments within the scope of the proposed action, specific to the proposed action, have a direct

relationship to the proposed action and include supporting reasons for the Responsible Official to consider” (36 CFR 215.2). Substantive

comments provide meaningful and useful information from commenters about their concerns and issues and can be used to enhance

project analysis and project planning.

Coding options are as follows:

Extraneous and/or statement of opinion. (1) Comment can be dismissed because either the cause of effect or the resource of concern is absent.

Outside Scope (2) Comment can be dismissed because it's not within the scope of actions to be considered in alternatives or covered under the Purpose and Need of the Proposed Action.

Beyond Scope (3) Comment can be dismissed because it is beyond the Regional Forester's authority to resolve in this specific analysis, or it is better addressed at a different scale or outside of the revision process. For example, it may be used if we get public comments over grazing fees, global warming, etc.

Concern will be discussed/analyzed in the document (4)

Comment is addressing an issue we have already covered in our proposed action and purpose and need statement or will be covered in chapter 1, 2, or 3 of the environmental document.

Legal Requirement and/or Forest Plan Consistency Requirement (5)

This comment addresses an issue we are already legally mandated to address and/or is required to be followed by the Forest Plan.

Definition of procedure (6) Comment is a question and/or incorrect definition of our procedures and requires a follow up phone call by a specialist, team leader, NEPA coordinator or district ranger.

Need additional analysis – possibly drive an alternative or a change to the document (7)

A legitimate concern by the public that does not meet the above definitions. This concern could be an issue that drives an additional alternative.

COMMENTS FROM LETTERS HAVE BEEN PARAPHRASED FOR THIS TABLE. ALL LETTERS AND MORE EXTENSIVE RESPONSES (WHEN

NECESSARY) ARE IN THE PROJECT RECORD.


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Concerns

Category of

Comment #

Substantive

(Yes or No) Forest Service Response Assignment

Amos, S – October 9, 2009

More helicopter logging should take place…it’s a waste of

resources and causes more air pollution to burn good

timber, rather than letting loggers have it.

4 Y Thank you for your comment. Air quality is addressed

in Project Design Features (PDFs), and is addressed in

the EA Section 1.9.2. Mechanical treatments were also

considered in an alternative (see EA Section 2.2.1.

Enna

Forests thinned by loggers are proven to be more resilient

against fire and disease.

1 N Thank you for your comment. Enna/Lucas

Burned trees after previous fire years were left to rot

instead of being utilized.

1 N Thank you for your comment. Enna

Nez Perce Tribe - Baird, P – November 20, 2009

Concerned that there is no mention of potential impacts to

cultural resources. A cultural resource study should be

conducted if one has not been done thus for.

4 Y PDFs would ensure that cultural properties would be

protected during project activities. The Payette National

Forest archaeologist has completed a Section 106 review

for this project.

Kingsbury

Cruickshank, G – November 21, 2009

Concerned with a 2008 type rain event occuring before

vegetation restores itself. Leaving vegetation untreated in

the RCAs may lead to future impacts from a wildfire.

Potential impacts need to be identified before prescribed

burning.

4 Y PDFs include delaying implementation of prescribed fire

in the watersheds where the streams channels were

impacted by the 2008 rain event until they recover. Fire

will be allowed to enter RCAs.

Fitzgerald

Burning may emit harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

Local knowledge may be more important than science.

Please respect our air quality with this project.

4 Y This issue is addressed in the EA Section 1.9.2. Before

prescribed fires are ignited, fire managers are required to

submit their plans to the Montana/Idaho State Airshed

Group monitoring unit. The monitoring unit reviews

existing air quality levels along with weather conditions

to determine which prescribed fires can be ignited and

which, if any, must be delayed to ensure that air quality

meets federal and state standards.

Enna

Projects to retain vegetation prior to burning may be a tool

to use to help retain soils.

4 Y Project design features will include protection to soils

based on soil and fuel moisture. The proposed action is

for low intensity wildfire to maintain desired vegetative

conditions (i.e. – large tree open stands).

Fitzgerald


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Because the project is in anadromous fish habitat, extra

precautions need to be taken.

4 Y This issue has been addressed in the EA in Section 1.9.2.

PDFs and monitoring have been developed to address

this issue.

Zurstadt

Fall burning may have an impact on winter habitat

vegetation and must be used with extreme care.

4 Y The use of fall prescribed fire would be used on different

portions of the project area at different times in the

future. The use of fall burning is addressed in the EA.

Thank you for your comment.

Ryan

What measures will the Forest Service use to prevent

noxious weeds from increasing on the project?

4 Y This is address in the EA. PDFs and monitoring have

been developed to address this issue.

Pope

What is the timeline for restoring trails in the burned areas.

Since this is a multi-year project, timelines need to be

shown for restoration hazard tree removal.



Pope

Notification of owners, permitees and the general public

needs to be more than a notice in the local papers. Sign

boards should be placed along the roads to explain future

plans.

4 Y Pre-burn notification is an element that will be addressed

in the burn plan.

Enna

Idaho State Parks and Recreation – Cook – October 22, 2009

Concerned about the effects that prescribed fire would

have on trails #069, #071, #073, #075



Pope

Request that all trail erosion control devices (water bars

and drain dips) be cleaned and/or installed either before

the burn starts or immediately after the prescribed burn.



Pope

Project activities should be posted at the trailheads and

news releases should be sent out to notify the public.

4 Y Notification is a standard requirement of burn plans. This

is address in the EA. PDFs and monitoring have been

developed to address this issue.

Pope

Idaho State Historical Society – Davis – October 12, 2009

The Ranger District should contact Larry Kingsbury,

heritage program manager at the Payette NF, for his

assessment on whether an inventory is warranted for this

project.

4 Y The Payette National Forest archaeologist has completed

a Section 106 review for this project.

Kingsbury

Hamilton – October 29, 2009

A cooperative, research developed, study and monitoring

plan for this project should be developed.

4 Y The EA does have monitoring requirements built in. Enna

Applying fire as a tool without some assurance of reaching

managements PVG goals and other broad elements only

4 Y The EA identifies PDFs, monitoring requirements and

adaptive management adjustments to ensure treatments

Lucas


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indicates that fire may reach a goal of acres burned but

does not ensure that it meets the prescribed goals for PVGs

or wildlife enhancement.

are as planned and analyzed.

What damage can be expected to the residual stand? Will

there be a salvage effort?

4 Y This is addressed in the EA. Enna/Lucas

How will the PVGs in RCAs be brought to targetted or

desired levels when only allowing passive burning?

Historically fire was not an active element in RCAs.

4 Y The objective of this project is to use prescribed fire in

the uplands to maintain the desired condition of the

vegetation while minimizing potentail degrading effects

to Watershed Condition Indicators. As prescribed fire

backs into RCAs some desired effects to vegetation

within RCAs will occur, similar to effects in the adjacent

uplands. The extent of effects to vegetation within the

RCA will depend on site specific charactersitics, such as

humididy, soil moisture, and forest stand structure.

Zurstadt

What about the potential need for tree felling to provide

fire ignition continuity or spread rates?

4 Y The burning will depend upon natural fuel accumulations

to carry the fire.

Enna

Historically, high intensity, short duration rain storms have

frequently impacted recently burned areas. The level of

recovery for storm affected areas should be minimal to

mimic natural events.

4 Y It is expected that the time duration for recovery of

streams impacted by both wildfire and precipitation

events will be short.

Fitzgerald

There needs to be discussion about how burning will

impact acesss to the area for recrationists, especially

hunters.

4 Y PDFs address this issue. Pope

Weed control measures need to keep up with the

treatments or activities that enhance their establishment

and spread.

4 Y PDFs and Monitoring address this issue. Hansen/Pope

Given the Forest Services limited maintenance budget, a

discussion needs to happen on how access will be

maintained on the trail system 5 or more years from burn

implementation when dead trees start coming down.

4 Y PDFs have been developed to address this issue. Pope

Cox Ranch – Harshfield – October 29, 2009

The huge project area requires a much longer time for

public comments.

6 N Addressed in EA Section 1.9.2

S. Dixon

The ground in the area is scorched from the intentionally

lit 2007 fires. Causing more fires is ludicrous.

1 N Thank you for your comment. The existing condition

takes into account the effects of the 2007 wildfires and

other disturbance events.

Enna


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Wanton burning by the forest service has caused trees to

fall into the road.


They witnessed a FS employee trying to cut a tree out of

the road with a Pulaski. Every FS vehicle should be

equipped with a chainsaw. Not doing this makes the

Forest Service’s decision making ability questionable.


A full EIS should be completed for the entire proposed

area.

6 N See the EA section 1.9.2.

S. Dixon

The FS should restore the benefits of logging over

burning.

7 N Thank you for your comment. Enna/Lucas

Conscientious forest management using mechanical

clearing and thinning needs to be put into practice.

4 Y An mechanical treatment alternative was considered.

See EA section 2.2.1.

Enna/Lucas

The forest service and fire people must be held

accountable for the devastation caused by prescribed and

fire use fires.


Paying fire people to destroy young and old growth is

more expensive than having a few people earn wages to

care for and control forest growth.

1 N Thank you for your comment. The intent of this project

is to manage vegetation to move toward the desired

conditions specified in the Forest Plan.

Enna

Fire and smoke are not healthy. 4 Y Thank you for your comment. Air quality concerns are

addressed in the EA Section 1.9.2. In addition PDFs and

monitoring has been built into the proposed action to

address this concern.

Enna

Suggest breaking the project into segments less than 5000

acres in size.

6 N Although the project area is nearly 20,000 acres.

Implementation will involve prescribed burning no more

than 5,000 acres per year.

S.

Dixon/Enna

Bald hill is not overgrown with brush. Comparing aerial

photos from the 1940s to GoogleEarth imagery indicates

that the area’s vegetation has grown very little.

1 Y Current vegetation conditions are analyzed in the NEPA

document. The desired conditions are also addressed in

the EA.

Enna

The Wilderness Society – McCarthy – November 6, 2009

Support reintroducing fire to fire dependent ecosystems

and conducting maintenance burns in areas that have

recently experienced fire.


Support burning in the fall instead of the spring, which is

not a fire prone time of year.

4 Y This project will focus on late summer and fall burning.

However, in areas that are highly departed from the

historic fire return interval spring burning may be

necessary to reduce fuels to a level that will permit fall

Enna


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burning. Further discussion of this topic is located in the

EA.

Burning in the later summer, would better mimic historic

fire prone times.

4 Y See above response to comment. Enna

This project presents numerous opportunities for research.

An intentional and up front connection with current and

potential future research projects here at Bald Hill could

expand our understanding of fire.

2 Y Thank you for your comment. Although this

is outside the scope of this project, the Forest

hopes to be able to support research. In

addition, monitoring has been incorporated into

this project.

Enna

Roadless resources should be analyzed in the EA as an

issue.

4 Y This issue is addressed in the EA Section 1.9.2. S. Dixon

In a project of this size educational opportunities, such as

field trips should be recognized.

2 Y Thank you for your comment. Although this is outside

the scope of this project we hope to be able to do these

types of activities.

Enna

Pence – October 14, 2009

Wildfire related sedimentation exceeds logging related

sedimentation in the SFSR.

1 N Thank you for your comment. See the following

response from Zurstadt.

Zurstadt

Visually, the Aquatic Conservation Strategy of the 2003

Forest Plan is not being met, these resources are

Functioning at Unacceptable Risk (FUR).

4 Y Many of the Watershed Condition Indicators (WCIs) in

the analysis area are functioning at risk or at

unacceptable risk. To be consistent with Forest Plan

Standards the project must maintain or improve WCIs

that are not functioning appropriatly. Mitigations and

project design features such as avoiding ignition within

RCA will help insure WCIs are maintained or improved.

Zurstadt

Results of wildifire demonstrate the need for active

management including mechanical methods and prescribed

fire.

4 Y Mechanical treatments were considered in an alternative.

See EA Section 2.2.1.

Lucas

Parts of the project area were intensely burning in 2007.

The land type is senstive and has been impacted by nine

land failures from the 2007 wildfires.

4 Y Not all of the project area will be treated at once. There

is direction built into the proposal to delay

implementation of prescribed fire in the watersheds

where the streams were impacted by wildfire. until they

recover.

Fitzgerald

Recent wildfires have led to a negative sensitivity to fire

by the population of Yellow Pine. The Forest Service

needs some prescribed fire success to illustrate what can

1 N Thank you for your comment. The Forest has completed

a number of successful burns in the project area in the

past decade. Most notably in 2004 (Parks-Eiguren) and

Enna


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be accomplished. 2006 (Fitsum-Dutch Oven).

There are other areas in the SFSR that could benefit as

much or more from prescribed fire that would not be

controversial.

1 N Thank you for your comment. Hopefully the Forest will

be able to plan projects in these areas as well.

Enna

The intensity of another catastrophic wildfire burning in

the heavy fuels form the 2007 fires could result in bare soil

and rock.

4 Y This is part of the reason this project was developed. By

prescribed burning, fuels can be maintained at levels that

will create more resilient forests.

Enna

Packer Victory Family Heritage - Victory – October 25, 2009

Ensure that prescribed burning in the spring does not

injure or kill ground nesting birds.

4 Y This is addressed in the wildlife specialist report (in the

project record). In addition, PDFs have been developed

to address this issue. Thank you for your comment.

Ryan

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