Sample Purpose and Need for Rangeland NEPA (April 2005)

Purpose and Need for Inclusion in the NOI, Scoping Doc. and EIS

The SixRiversNational Forest has determined the following needs concerning the Van Horn, Long Ridge, Hoaglin, Zenia and Soldier Creek Allotments:

  1. There is a need for continued livestock grazing under updated Allotment Management Plans in the Van Horn, Long Ridge, Hoaglin, and Zenia allotments.

The Forest Service determined that lands within these allotments are suitable for producing forage for grazing and browsing animals (LRMP FEIS III-139, Analysis). The current grazing allotment permittees have expressed strong interest in continuing use of these allotments. (Personal Communication with Don Parker, Dave Albee, and Ross Burgess)

Permits for these allotments were reissued in December of 2002 under the terms of Section 504(a) of the 1995 Rescissions Act, Public Law 104-19. The Rescissions Act addresses grazing on National Forest System lands, specifically allotment analysis, grazing permit issuance, and compliance with NEPA. The act includes a schedule for completion of Allotment Management Plans, including NEPA analysis. This schedule requires that allotment management plans for these allotments be updated and new permits issued by 2007. (Analysis File, Appendix XXX)

  1. There is a need for compliance with soil compaction and bank stability standards and guidelines as stated in the Six Rivers National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) where these resources are being impacted by livestock grazing.

A recent evaluation determined that the LRMP soil porosity standard and guideline (LRMP IV-71, 1-2) was not being met in selected areas within the annual grasslands and that soil compaction was a potential concern under current grazing practices. In addition, many upland grassland intermittent and ephemeral channels were not meeting the LRMP stream bank stability standard and guideline (LRMP IV-121) due mostly to natural instability but exacerbated by current grazing practices. As such, there is a need to meet soil productivity and bank stability standards and guidelines where livestock grazing is known to be adversely impacting these resources. (Short and long-term monitoring records, rangeland ecoplots 2001, 2003, Plan-to-Project Analysis. Refer to map XXX)

  1. There is a need for compliance with forage utilization standards in riparian areas and annual grasslands as stated in the LRMP where livestock grazing is known to exceed those standards.

Monitoring has identified several areas where over grazing has caused impacts to residual vegetation and associated plant communities in upland and riparian rangelands. These “areas of resource concern” exceed LRMP standards and guidelines for forage utilization. See map XXX. (Plan-to-Project Analysis; LRMP IV-120, 121: 17-2, 17-4, 17-5, 17-6).

4. There is a need for meeting the management goals, as directed in the LRMP, for the Soldier Basin Recommended Research Natural Area (RRNA) which is located in the Soldier Creek Allotment(LRMP IV-30) to the extent those goals are impeded by livestock grazing.

A field review of the RRNA by the Regional Ecologist determined that grazing is not compatible with LRMP RNA management goals. (Plan-to-Project Analysis, Letter from Regional Ecologist)

5. There is a need for exclusion of livestock from the Lone Pine campground.

Livestock have been documented in the Lone Pine campground. The LRMP standards and guidelines for recreation require that livestock be excluded from developed recreation sites (LRMP V-24 (3).(Records of complaints and campground host reports, 2003-4)

In achieving the aforementioned needs the following purposes shall be met:

1. Fulfill a trust responsibility to the Round Valley Indian Tribes to manage grazing activities so as to not adversely impact tribal trust properties and rights down river of the allotments, namely water quality and anadromous fish. (Consultation with the Tribe)

2. Minimize impacts to anadromous fisheries along the North ForkEelRiver system. Anadromous fish are the primary beneficial use for water quality in this watershed. It is the Outstandingly Remarkable Value associated with the WildRiver designation within National Forest System lands (LRMP IV-26). Also, steelhead trout are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. (Consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service)

3. Redistribute cattle away from identified heritage sites. Surveys and consultation with the Round Valley Indian Tribes identified heritage sites that could be adversely impacted by current grazing practices. (Heritage Resource Inventory and Mitigation Matrix).

4. Maintain the permittees’ ability to graze livestock efficiently and economically. Adjustment of allotment management plans could adversely impact the permittees’ ability to maintain a viable livestock operation (Communication with Permittees).

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