[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 178 (Thursday, September 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-22832]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 15, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

 

Deadwood Ecosystem Analysis, Boise National Forest, ID

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Lowman Ranger District of the Boise National Forest will 
prepare an environmental impact statement on a proposal to initiate 
ecosystem management and restoration projects in the Deadwood River 
drainage. This proposal will consist of watershed improvements, 
wildlife habitat maintenance, vegetation restoration and prescribed 
fire. A landscape scale analysis approach has been applied to the 
Deadwood Ecosystem. Using the National Hierarchical of Ecological Units 
the Deadwood Landscape has been classified into progressively smaller 
areas of uniform ecological potentials for use in ecosystem management. 
Ecological units have been delineated by similar patterns of (1) 
potential natural communities, (2) soils, (3) hydrological function, 
(4) landforms and topography, (5) lithology, (6) climate, (7) air 
quality and (8) natural processes for cycling plant biomass and 
nutrients.

    Data for the analysis was processed using timber stand examination 
data, aerial photography interpretations, existing stream and soil 
surveys, road inventories, recreation planning records, cultural 
resource surveys, historical accounts from the State of Idaho and State 
Fish and Game, Native Americans, Boise Forest historical and planning 
records, satellite imagery, local and regional Geographical Information 
Systems (GIS) coverages and conversations with local residents. Land 
system inventories, vegetation data, historical accounts, and fire 
history are the key elements used in determining landscape elements, 
patterns, and processes.

COMMENTS: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be 
received in writing on or before November 1, 1994. Mail comments to, or 
for further information contact, Dautis Pearson Lowman Ranger District, 
Boise National Forest, HC 77 Box 3020, Lowman, ID 83637, Telephone: 
208-259-3361.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Analysis on the Deadwood drainage has 
applied a landscape level analysis process to determine existing 
ecosystem conditions. From this analysis we have determined what 
ecosystems need to be maintained across the landscape dependent on the 
physical environment and the types of neighboring ecosystems. Focusing 
on the maintenances of the pieces we will be pursuing species and 
biological diversity at all levels. Restoration practices to meet these 
goals will be determined according to land suitability and biological 
needs. Integration of the social and political aspects of Deadwood 
ecosystem analysis have been examined at their appropriate scale.

    The purposes of the Deadwood Landscape Analysis proposal is to (1) 
restore and maintain the health and long-term sustainability of the 
Deadwood ecosystem through treatment of identified high risk and hazard 
stands, so that natural processes can be used to maintain the ecosystem 
in the future. (2) to maintain species diversity at the landscape level 
by maintaining a minimum of 40 percent of the landscape in the matrix, 
50 percent in patch condition and 10 percent in corridors. This will 
ensure that healthy and viable populations of all the native species of 
flora and fauna characteristic of the Deadwood Ecosystem will be 
present now and into the future. (3) minimize risks to users, and 
maintain long-term ecological integrity along the southern portion of 
the Deadwood River corridor. (4) compare existing ecological conditions 
with historic and determine a historic range of variability specific to 
the Deadwood Ecosystem, for all resources. (5) ensure long-term 
persistence of the aquatic ecosystem encompassing goals and objectives 
of the draft Bull Trout Conservation Agreement (BTCA) developed by the 
State of Idaho. (6) priorities treatment of sites at high risk 
individually (suited and unsuited) from fire, insect and disease which 
are threatening neighboring low risk sites. (7) treat a percentage of 
the sites in the northern portion of the drainage which may be within 
the historic range but have altered fire regimes, in order to avoid or 
reduce the severity of potential fire. (8) map and establish 
recreational sites and determine elements that may be compromising the 
ecological integrity of the Deadwood drainage. Provide a plan to 
relocate and/or develop these areas and establish guidelines for 
outfitter and public recreation. (9) monitor and apply adaptive 
management techniques to ensure that treatments meet goals and 
objectives of ecosystem and landscape desired conditions.
    This preliminary analysis has demonstrated through risk and hazard 
assessment the large number of stands at risk from insect and disease 
epidemics and catastrophic wildfires. Past logging practices, fire 
suppression and drought have all attributed to a shift in species 
composition and density. This conversion of diverse landscapes to 
homogeneous landscapes will decrease plant and animal diversity, 
species viability, and distribution, moving the area outside the 
historic range of variability. In order to maintain structural 
diversity and spatial heterogeneity across the landscape over time, all 
acres in the Deadwood landscape need to be considered.
    Deadwood Landscape Integrated Proposed Action: The Proposed Action 
will consider all 152,966 acres in the Deadwood drainage over the next 
10 years where treatment is necessary. Monitoring of changes across the 
landscape will be crucial to the success of this project as to allow 
for adaptive management as monitoring results indicate needed 
adjustments. This proposal will be divided into fire groups, cover 
types, and structural classes by Ecological Management Units (EMU). 
Treatment by EMUs would vary at the site level scale, depending on site 
specific stand conditions and the relationship to the landscape level 
scale.
    Project Features: Construct a shallow water important (partnership 
with BOR) on approximately 10 acres of the Deadwood Reservoir to create 
or restore wetland habitat for waterfowl and associated species.
    Protect and maintain Whitehawk Basin, monitoring change conditions. 
Evaluate the use of prescribed and/or prescribed natural fire to 
maintain the integrity of the meadow. Protect Tranquil Basin area 
maintaining the riparian meadow. Monitor changes.
    Evaluate past harvest along the west side of the reservior to 
determine species composition shift from previous methods. Restore 
through thinning and reforestation.
    Develop a drainage basin recreation plan based on ecological, 
social and economical needs, including outfitter and guide permits for 
the lower Deadwood River area.
    Reconstruction and/or modification of approximately 30 miles of 
existing roads, to control sedimentation and erosion hazards. Build 
approximately 10 miles of road to access areas south of Deadwood 
Reservoir. This road would begin from the No-man road #503 and run 
south along the Deadwood River. Build approximately 6 mines of new road 
along Scott Creek for access into Six Mile Creek and Scott Creek. Build 
approximately 3 miles of road to access areas northwest of Deadwood 
Reservoir along Goat Creek, and Wild Buck Creek. Build approximately 2 
miles of road to access areas southwest of Deadwood Reservoir in the 
Trail Creek area. All new roads and approximately 10 miles of existing 
roads would be closed, obliterated and revegetated at the end of the 
project. Road closures would be determined on wildlife needs and soil 
requirements.
    Riparian areas and Meadows: Approximately 8,000 acres of streamside 
riparian and dry and wet meadows exist throughout the drainage. 
Extensive stream surveys will be concluded this summer as stated in the 
above methodology. To ensure long-term persistence of bull trout the 
aquatic ecosystem assessment will encompass goals and objectives of the 
Bull Trout Conservation Agreement (BTCA) developed by the State of 
Idaho. The agreement promotes bull trout recovery by maintaining and 
restoring the ecological processes that create and maintain good fish 
habitat. The key concept of the BTCA is to maintain and restore viable, 
multiple life populations of the species by establishing site-specific 
riparian management objectives relative to critical habitat parameters 
essential for bull trout productivity. Stream improvement projects, 
silvicultural treatment, and prescribed fire will be used on these 
acres to maintain or enhance water quality, maintain or improve 
conditions for viable fish populations and to prevent encroachment or 
deterioration of the riparian meadows. Some of these areas are at high 
risk to fire and spruce beetles. Most of these areas are at a moderate 
hazard except for those subdrainages next to high risk, high hazard 
upland sites.
    Miscellaneous Cover Types, Fire Group 0: Approximately 2,700 acres 
of brushfields exist predominately in the southern portion of the 
Deadwood drainage. Extensive site inventories will be concluded on 
these areas during the summer of 1994. At present dominate use of these 
areas are winter range for deer and elk. These areas are at low risk 
and hazard. We propose to use prescribed fire on these acres to enhance 
wildlife winter range taking pressure off of the Lowman Fire area. 
Treatment of stands in Fire Groups 2, 3 and 4 adjacent to these 
brushfields would be treated first so that underburning of these stands 
could take place at the same time.
    Structure Class 1, Grass/Forbs: Fire Group 3--Warm moist ponderosa 
pine habitat types. Approximately 3,500 acres of previously harvested 
areas exist in this Fire Group 3. These stands currently have 500--900 
TPA and basal area is not known. Diseased overstories would be removed 
to control Douglas-fir mistletoe. Fire Group 4--Cool dry Douglas-fir 
habitat types. Approximately 4,000 acres in Fire Group 4 in the central 
portion of the Deadwood drainage would be treated with the same 
treatment. These stands are at low risk and hazard. Due to the response 
of trees at these smaller diameters, TPA would vary as to species. Fire 
Group 7--Cool habitat types usually dominated by lodgepole pine. 
Approximately 1,000 acres in Fire Group 7 located in the upper central 
area would be non-commercially thinned. Approximately 2,000 acres in 
Fire Group 4 in the central portion would be treated with the same 
treatment. These stands are at low risk and hazard. Due to the response 
of trees at these smaller diameters, TPA would vary as to species. Fire 
Group 8, 9-8--Dry, lower subalpine habitat types. Fire Group 9--Moist, 
lower subalpine habitats. Stands which are predominately avalanche 
chutes and areas of less then 5 trees per acre (TPA) would be monitored 
for successional changes. Areas of the Deadwood Summit fire in Fire 
Group 9 would also be monitored for recovery rate and succession 
transition.
    Structure Class 2, seedlings/saplings: Approximately 3,000 acres of 
Fire Groups 3, 4, 7 exist from previous harvest and other disturbances. 
Treatment may include overstory removal of diseased trees and pre-
commercial thinning. Non-commercial and/or commercial thinning of 
lodgepole stands in Fire Group 7 to 150--300 TPA (27 Basal Area (BA)) 
to release understories of Douglas-fir and subalpine fir. In Fire Group 
8, thirty percent of the dense stands where Douglas-fir beetle has 
invaded would be treated given the guidelines of the prescriptions. The 
remainder of these stands would be left untreated to maintain this 
component at the landscape level. Prescribed fire will be used where 
applicable after treatment.
    Structure Class 3, poles/saplings: No treatment other then non-
commercial thinning would occur on these acres unless their 
relationship to other stands creates a hazard.
    Structure Class 4, immature-mature: Fire Group 5--Moist Douglas-fir 
habitats. These stands are collapsing from Douglas-fir bark beetle 
attacks. Apply prescription for high risk on approximately 5,000 acres.
    Structure Class 5, mature to over-mature: In fire groups 3 and 4 
harvest 4,500 acres using prescription guidelines. Prescribed fire 
would be used after silvicultural treatment. These stands are at high 
risk and high hazard and constitute high hazards to stands in close 
proximity. The stands in fire group five are collapsing from Douglas-
fir bark beetle attacks. Apply prescription for high risk on 
approximately 2,000 acres. Reduce density in thick lodgepole areas on 
4,400 acres in Fire Group 7 using commercial and pre-commercial 
thinning following prescription guidelines for associated risk and 
hazard. On approximately 1,000 acres of dense stands of subalpine fir 
in Fire Group 7, create openings following prescriptions guidelines. 
The remainder of these acres would be left. The 9,000 acres of Fire 
Group 8 apply the same treatment to these dense and contiguous stands 
of subalpine fir creating openings on approximately 3,500 acres 
following prescription guidelines for risk and hazard. These stands are 
at low risk but high hazard because of the contiguous acre. The 2,700 
acres of Fire Group 9, structure class 5 are open patchy areas which 
are within the historic range and would not be treated. They would be 
re-evaluated after 5 years.
    Structure Class 6 over-mature: Harvest 8,000 acres of the 15,000 
acres which are at high risk and high hazard to prescription guidelines 
in fire groups 3, 4 and 5. Approximately 1,000 acres could be treated 
with prescribed fire, but is located in steep and rugged terrain. These 
stands are at high risk and high hazard and constitute high hazards to 
stands in close proximity. Reduce density in thick lodgepole areas on 
600 of the 18,000 acres in Fire Group 7 using commercial and non-
commercial thinning following prescription guidelines for associated 
risk and hazard. Harvest 10,000 acres following prescription guidelines 
for risk and hazard. Reduction of fire hazard would also occur. 
Approximately 5,000 acres of the 18,000 acres in these fire groups are 
lodgepole pine thickets along the northern portion of the Deadwood 
River. Commercial and non-commercial thinning following prescription 
guidelines would be administered. The remaining acres are open patchy 
areas effected by climate and poor or high hazard soils. They are at 
low risk and hazard and would receive no treatment. The 3,000 acres of 
Fire Group 8 apply the same treatment to these dense and contiguous 
stands of subalpine fir creating openings on approximately 1,500 acres 
following prescription guidelines for risk and hazard. Acres in fire 
group 9 (7,000) are open patchy areas. These acres would receive no 
treatment in order to maintain the diversity of this structure class 
across the landscape. Five thousand acres of this fire group are open 
stands on high hazard soils at low risk and hazard and would not be 
treated. Fire Group 10--Cold, upper subalpine habitats. The potential 
1,500 acres that exist on the high ridgetops of upper Deadwood Summit 
support some whitebark pine. Burning of these areas may help to 
maintain dwindling populations. Harvest methods would vary by slope, 
access, and soil hazard analysis.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT MEETING: September, 1994: Public Meetings Boise, 
Idaho September, 1994: Public Meeting Garden Valley, Idaho.

POTENTIAL COOPERATING AGENCIES: Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 
USDI, Fish and Wildlife Service, Boise Field Office, Bureau of 
Reclamation, USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, 
Boise, Idaho, USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, 
Moscow, Idaho.

PUBLIC/AGENCY CONTACTS: Contacts have been made with the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service as to threatened and endangered species listed for the 
project area and landowners in or near the project area. A summary of 
the project methodology was mailed to key individuals, groups and 
agencies for a response to analysis procedure.

SCHEDULE: Project Action Report signed by Acting Forest Supervisor: 
September 1, 1994. Public Meetings: September 15, 1994 in Boise and 
September 21, 1994 in Garden Valley. EIS Data: October 15, 1994. Draft 
EIS: January 1, 1995. Final EIS: March 1, 1995. Implementation: June 
1995.

RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: Cathy Barbouletos, Boise National Forest, Acting 
Forest Supervisor.

    Dated: September 1, 1994.
Cathy Barbouletos,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 94-22832 Filed 9-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M