decision memorandum mogollon rim christmas tree cutting...

Decision Memorandum Mogollon Rim Christmas Tree Cutting Project,

Wildcat Springs Area

Mogollon Rim Ranger District Coconino National Forest Coconino County, Arizona

Purpose and Need The Mogollon Rim Ranger District provides the public with the opportunity to cut Christmas trees each year. Desirable tree species for Christmas trees are Douglas-fir and white fir that occur in mixed conifer stands. Ponderosa pine trees may also be cut for tree boughs and Christmas trees. The Christmas tree area that was used from 2008 to 2012 encompassed several thousand acres along McClintock, Dane and Hospital Ridges along the Mogollon Rim. This location was a very long drive (20 miles one way) and often inaccessible because of snow. The District identified a need to locate a Christmas tree cutting area that was closer to State Highway 87 that would be easier to access in late November up to Christmas. The Wildcat Springs Christmas tree area is an area of mixed conifer and ponderosa pine stands stretches the length of State Highway 87 west of Clover Springs to Wildcat Springs on the Mogollon Rim Ranger District. This area is easily accessible to the public, using forest roads that take off of the highway, during the late fall months. The Wildcat Springs Christmas tree area will meet the recreational needs of forest visitors and local residents for Christmas trees for up to 10 years, from 2014 to 2023. Providing this Christmas tree harvesting area will allow for better public access and help reduce illegal cutting of trees elsewhere. The area has either a predominately Douglas/white fir or ponderosa pine understory and a ponderosa pine overstory. Fir trees are currently encroaching into ponderosa pine stands and removing them through this activity would be beneficial to restoring historic conditions, which were dominated by ponderosa pine. In addition, some of the ponderosa pine stands have heavy amounts of regeneration and need thinning to reduce the stand density of these young trees. Removing the overstocked understory will also reduce ladder fuels which are increasing the risk of crown fire that kills the entire stand. Removing some of the understory trees will provide more openings which will in turn benefit stand health and vitality. Project Location The location of the Wildcat Springs Christmas tree area is in T.12.N., R.9 E., sections 3 & 4; T. 13 N., R. 9 E., Sections 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 32, 33, 34 in Gila and Salt River Meridian

Figure 1. Understory fir trees in the Wildcat Springs Area

— Decision Memorandum — Mogollon Rim Christmas Tree Cutting Project, Wildcat Springs Area

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(Figures 2, 3, and 4). The cutting area encompasses 2,312 acres, consisting of 910 acres of mixed conifer and 1,402 acres of ponderosa pine (Figure 4). Decision and Project Actions It is my decision to authorize and allow the personal-use cutting of up to 6,000 white fir, Douglas fir, and ponderosa pine Christmas trees near the Mogollon Rim over a 10-year period of time. Trees will be harvested within stands near Wildcat Springs between mid-November and December 25 of each year from 2014-2023. The total project area is approximately 2,312 acres (910 acres of mixed conifer and 1,402 of Ponderosa Pine) (Figure 3). Up to 600 tree cutting permits will be offered annually, with tree size generally limited to less than ten feet tall. It is expected that up to five larger trees, all less than nine inches diameter at breast height (dbh), may be sold to local churches and community organizations each year of the project. Trees will be completely removed from the site, so no prescribed fire or other fuel treatment is proposed. Road Access Access to the project area is provided by a series of roads that branch off of State Route 87; including Forest Roads (FR) 616, 149, 6304, 9385T, 9385W, 9385X, 6035, 6036, 6037 and 6038. Several of the roads will only be open to holders of the Christmas tree permit and are not normally open to the public (roads 6304, 9385T, 9385W and 9385X). This project will authorize motor vehicle use on closed Forest system road 6304 where it begins off of FR 149 (0.3 miles) with a Christmas tree permit Roads that can be entered off of State Route 87 will be clearly signed describing the Christmas tree permit area. The roads are best travelled by high clearance vehicles. The roads within the tree cutting area will be open to all vehicles including OHVs with a valid permit. Vehicles can be parked alongside the forest roads and small designated parking areas will be available at the beginning and end of the road. Because of road hazards and to provide for public safety, parking will not be allowed along State Highway 87 or in the right of way. Roads open for travel may vary annually depending on road conditions and level of maintenance. The roads open for travel will be clearly shown on the Christmas tree permit map. No off-road motor vehicle use is allowed in the Christmas tree area. Access roads may be snow plowed by the Forest Service as funding and equipment is available. Heavy snowfall in the area may cause the Forest Service to close roads to motorized travel and may shorten the Christmas tree cutting period to ensure public safety. Reasons for Categorically Excluding the Proposed Action The proposed action will result in the removal of small trees, which is expected to reduce inter-tree competition and increase the resiliency of older ponderosa pine trees to drought or other disturbances such as high-intensity wildfire. Also, removal of the understory fir trees would create small openings and result in an increase in the amount of herbaceous cover. This could result in the improvement of the quality of cover and food sources for prey for species including northern goshawk or Mexican spotted owls. Other than the beneficial changes to forest structure, the environmental impact of the proposed action is limited to one month, consisting of vehicle use on existing roads, minor noise disturbances and hand or mechanized cutting of small trees for personal use. I find that the proposed action qualifies under Categorical Exclusion 36 CFR 220.6(e)(6):


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Timber stand and/or wildlife habitat improvement activities that do not include the use of herbicides or do not require more than 1 mile of low standard road construction.

Existing roads will be maintained as needed for access. No new roads will be constructed. No herbicides will be used. The status of 0.3 miles of FR 6304 will be changed from closed to FS Administrative Use. This road has a Forest Service gate at FR149, and the gate will be used to manage unauthorized access outside of the permitted time frame. This type of project is categorically excluded from documentation in an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement, when there are no extraordinary circumstances related to the decision that may result in a significant individual or cumulative environmental effect. The mere presence of one or more resource conditions does not preclude the use of a categorical exclusion. It is the existence of a cause-effect relationship between a proposed action and the potential effect on these resource conditions, and if such a relationship exists, the degree of the potential effect of a proposed action on these resource conditions that determines whether extraordinary circumstances exist. I have determined that no extraordinary circumstances exist that might cause the action to significantly affect the environment. The project area does not contain flood plains, wetlands, municipal watersheds, wilderness, wilderness study areas, national recreation areas, inventoried roadless areas, research natural areas or American Indian religious or cultural sites. The project contains habitat for a threatened species, the Mexican spotted owl and one heritage site but the evaluations of the project concluded that there would be no significant effects to these resources. The proposed action is therefore excluded from further documentation in either an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. A project file has been created and resides at the Mogollon Rim Ranger District office at Blue Ridge Ranger Station in Happy Jack, Arizona. Public Involvement The proposal to implement the Christmas tree cutting project in this area was listed on the Coconino National Forest Schedule of Proposed Actions starting on October 1, 2013. The proposal was provided to the public and other agencies and groups for scoping comments July 22, 2014. Information about the proposed project was also published on the Coconino National Forest internet site at the same time. A total of 22 letters and emails describing the proposed action were sent out to individuals, groups and agencies that might be interested in the project. In addition, a news release describing the project was published in the local community paper, the High County Informant on July 1, 2014. An email containing the scoping letter and information about the project was sent out to the Mogollon Rim District mailing list on July 28, 2014. There are more than 600 email addresses on that mailing list. The public scoping period ended August 23, 2014.Only one public comment was received but the comment did not pertain to the project The project proposed action has been reviewed by District and Forest specialists of the interdisciplinary team and did not result in the identification of issues that will lead to an Environmental Assessment or and Environmental Impact Statement. None of the public comments that were received led to unresolved issues that will require the development of additional alternatives to the proposed action.


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Findings Required by Other Laws This decision is consistent with the Coconino National Forest Management Plan as amended, as required by the National Forest Management Act. The project complies with the Coconino Land and Resource Management Plan goals for Timber which calls for developing and implementing a sustained yield program for firewood and other miscellaneous forest products including posts, poles, Christmas trees and wildlings. The project area is within Forest Management Area 3 ponderosa pine and mixed conifer, less that 40 percent slope and is consistent with management direction to make miscellaneous forest products available in a cost-effective manner including Christmas trees, poles, post and wildlings. The planning and decision-making process for this project was conducted in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, policies and plans, including the Endangered Species Act and the National Historic Preservation Act. The Endangered Species Act (ESA, 16 U.S.C.§§ 1531 – 1544) requires Federal activities not to jeopardize the continued existence of any species federally listed or proposed as threatened or endangered, or result in adverse modification to such species’ designated critical habitat. As required by ESA, potential effects of this decision on listed species have been analyzed and documented in a biological evaluation.

A site specific biological evaluation has been completed for the project to determine its potential impact on wildlife, fisheries and rare plants. Consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been conducted and they concurred with the Forest Service that the proposed action “may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect” the threatened Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) and its designated critical habitat. Removal of the understory fir trees would create small openings and result in an increase in the amount of herbaceous cover. This could result in the improvement of the quality of cover and food sources for prey of Mexican spotted owls. Impacts to Forest Service Sensitive Species (FSSS), migratory birds, Management Indicator Species (MIS), and bald and golden eagles were also considered. There may be impacts to individual northern goshawks, (a FSSS) but the project would occur entirely outside the breeding season. Potential habitat for northern leopard frogs, a FSSS species, exists in the project area, but no individuals were detected during surveys and the project will occur during the species’ wintering period. There will be no significant effects to migratory birds because very little habitat is being altered and the project will occur outside of the breeding season. There will be no changes to MIS population or habitat forest-wide trends as a result of implementing the project due to the small amount of habitat altered. The project will not result in take of any bald or golden eagles as described in the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Potential impacts to heritage resources were also considered. Previous surveys have been conducted along the roads in the project area and no heritage sites were found. One historical site is known in the project area but it is in the ponderosa pine type where there will be less visitation to cut trees and other recreational use from this project and so a no effect determination was reached for the project. A heritage clearance report was completed and is located in the Project Record.

Internal specialist environmental reviews have been conducted and have found that there will be no impacts to rare plants, soils, water quality, public safety and scenery values from the annual project activities. Introduction or spread of noxious and invasive weeds is unlikely from the project as there is no ground disturbance anticipated with this activity.


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The project is consistent with the Executive Order #12898, Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations because the proposed activities are open to all individuals that purchase a permit. The permit cost is relatively low at the present time, $15 for each tree. The public can use the area for recreation and other uses without a Christmas tree permit as long as they are complying with the travel management rules for the roads in the area. Administrative Review or Appeal Opportunities My decision is not subject to administrative appeal or a pre-decisional objection process. As a result of the two statutes described below, the Forest Service will no longer offer notice, comment and appeal opportunities pursuant to 36 CFR 215 for categorically excluded projects. On January 17, 2014, the President signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 (Pub. L. No. 113-76). Section 431 of that Act directs that the 1992 and 2012 legislation establishing the 36 CFR 215 (post-decisional appeals) and 36 CFR 218 (pre-decisional objections) processes “shall not apply to any project or activity implementing a land and resource management plan … that is categorically excluded ….under the National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA].” On February 7, 2014, the President signed into law the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Farm Bill) (Pub. L. No. 113-79). Section 8006 of the 2014 Farm Bill repealed the Appeals Reform Act (ARA) (Pub. L. No. 102-381). The ARA’s implementing regulation was 36 CFR 215. The 2014 Farm Bill also directs that the pre-decisional objection process established in the Consolidated Appropriation Act of 2012 shall not be applicable to categorically excluded projects or activities. Contact Person For additional information regarding this project contact: Polly Haessig, NEPA Specialist, 8738 Ranger Road, Happy Jack, AZ 86024, 928-477-5007, email: [email protected] Responsible Official The responsible official for this decision is the Mogollon Rim District Ranger. As the Responsible Official, it is my decision to implement the actions as described in this Decision Memo. Implementation The project may be implemented on or after November 18, 2014.


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mailto:[email protected]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.


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Figure 2. State, Forest and District Vicinity Maps


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Figure 3. Vicinity Map, Forest Visitor Map Base


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Figure 4. Wildcat Springs, Christmas Tree Area Map


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