I 346.0435 F2erce 1997 RANCHK unflDY mitW (OffiERVATION A pnipusal ny tne Montana Department oi Fisn, Wildliie & Parks December 19, 1997 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT st;;te documc:jts collccticd ft g-«iiL W:, e MONTANA STATE LIBRARY Ui\ HELEN1A5,15MEO.N6TtAhNAAVE5.9520 i ^"cuiiiiu'iil |)c-riiHl Di) this |iriiiu>sal is Iroiii Dcccinhcr 19, 1997 loJanuary20, 1998- Please siiiinii .dininenls Ic; Mcnlana Deparlmenl oi Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 930 CusterAve. W., Helena, MT 59620 MONTANASTATELIBRARY LIV, ^3 1998 3 0864 0010 2136 2 J -3 1998 GRADY RANCHES CONSERVATION EASEMENT A proposal by Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks Included in This Document: o Draft Environmental Assessment o Draft Management Plan o Socio-Economic Assessment Comment period on this proposal is from December 19, 1997 until January 20, 1998. Submit Comments to: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks c/o Grady Ranches Comments Helena Area Resource Office 930 Custer Ave. W. MT Helena, 59620 Public Hearing: January 14, 1998 at 7 p.m. Best Western Colonial Park Hotel, Helena, MT For additional information contact: Joel Peterson, Region 3 Wildlife Manager, (406) 994-6936 Michael Korn, Helena Area Coordinator, (406)444-4720 . TableofContents INTRODUCTION I. 1 AUTHORITYAND DIRECTION II. 1 III. LOCATION OFTHEPROJECT 2 IV. PURPOSE ANDNEED 2 V. DESCRIPTION OFTHEPROPOSEDACTION 3 VI. DESCRIPTION OF REASONABLEALTERNATIVES TOTHEPROPOSEDACTION 5 1 NoActionAlternative 5 2. FeeTitleAcquisitionAlternative 5 3. LeaseAlternative 5 VII. EVALUATION OF IMPACTS ON THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT 5 1. Land Resources 5 2. AirResources 6 3. Water Resources 6 4. Vegetation Resources 6 5. Fisli/Wildlife Resources 6 VIII. EVALUATION OF IMPACTS ON THEHUMAN ENVIRONMENT 7 1. Noise/Electrical Effects 7 2. LandUse 7 3. Risk/HealthHazards 7 4. Community Impacts 8 5. Public Services/Taxes/Utilities 8 6. Aesthetics/Recreation 8 7. Cultural/Historic Resources 8 8. Socio-EconomicAssessment 8 IX. SUMMARY EVALUATION OF SIGNIFICANCE 9 X. EVALUATION OFNEED FORAN EIS 9 XL PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT 9 COMMENTS 9 XII. NAME, TITLEANDPHONENUMBEROFPERSONS RESPONSIBLEFOR PREPARINGTHEE.A 10 XIII. PERSONS PROVIDINGASSISTANCE INPUTAND/ORREVIEWDURING PREPARATION OF THEE.A 10 APPENDIXA APPENDIXB Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Wildlife Division Draft Environmental Assessment GRADY RANCHES CONSERVATION EASEMENT INTRODUCTION I. The state ofMontana recognizes thatcertainnativeplantcommunities constituting wildlife habitat are worthy ofperpetual conservation. These communities include riparian, sagebrush-grassland, montane forest, and intermountaingrassland. Properties owned by the Grady family include such habitats and warrant perpetual conservationconsideration. In 1992 the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP), Grady Ranch Co., Grady Livestock Co., Edward J. Grady, Eileen L. Grady, Raymond P. Grady, and Patricia Ann Grady (the "Gradys") entered into a Management Agreementfor a termoffive years. That agreement recognized the importance of habitatfeamresontheproperty, granted FWPcertainmanagementopportunities, andperpemated the public recreational opportunities that have beenallowed onthe property. That agreement also FWP reflected FWP's interest inobtaining apermanentconservationagreementon the property. andtheGradys (Grady RanchCo., Grady LivestockCo., EdwardJ. Grady, and EileenL. Grady) have now reached agreement onthe terms ofaproposed permanent conservation easement. The terms ofthe proposed conservation easement reflect the Gradys' desire to maintain and protect their ranching lifestyle and agriculmral production while enhancing wildlife habitats. It is proposed thata permanent conservationeasementbe purchased by FWP from the Gradys. The proposed easement will keep the property in private ownership and operation while preserving importantwildlife habitats and perpemating public recreational oppormnities. AUTHORITY AND DIRECTION II. FWPhastheauthorityunderlaw (87-1-201) toprotect, enhanceandregulatetheuseofMontana's fish and wildlife resources for public benefit now and in the future. In 1987, the Montana Legislamre passed HB 526 which earmarked hunting license revenues to secure wildlife habitat through lease, conservation easement, or fee title acquisition (87-1-241 and 242). This is now referred to as the Habitat Montana Program. As with other FWP real property proposals, the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission and the State Land Board must approve this conservation easement proposal. This Environmental Assessment is part ofthe decision making process as directed by the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). LOCATION OF THE PROJECT III. The property is located approximately 25 miles northwest of Helena, near the community of CanyonCreek (Figure 1), andconsists ofapproximately 12,900 deeded acres. Most ofthe land involved is within hunting district 343, west of Lincoln Road (Highway 279). The balance of the property lies east of Lincoln Road in hunting district 339. The property is bordered by the Helena National Forestto the west, ChevallierRanch and BLM to the north, SiebenRanch to the east, and small parcels ofprivate land and Grady Livestock Co. property to the south. IV. PURPOSE AND NEED The Grady Ranches on the east slope ofthe Continental Divide encompassing a rich diversity of timbered and sagebrush/grassland habitats that is home fora wide variety ofwildlife species, and provides recreational opportunities to the citizens ofHelena and other communities. The Grady Ranches provide importantaccess for hunting, not only on their private land, but to school trust land and federal land found within and adjacent to their boundaries. The Grady family allows hunter access to and through their property. Placement of a conservation easement on this property would assure that this land stays in a ranching operation, while at the same time conserving wildlife habitat and providing public recreational use for hunting and fishing. This property is strategically located adjacent to public land and FWP's Sieben Ranch conservation easement, thus blocking up significantcritical habitat and movement corridors for animals along the Continental Divide. (Figure 2) Radiocollar informationhas shownmovements ofelk from HD 293 and HD 281 and incidental movements from HD 380 to and through the Grady Ranches. Theopensagebrush/grasslandhabitatprovidescritical winter range forbig game animals. Conifer cover found on the property is important for thermal and hiding cover. The Grady Ranches provide important seasonal and year-around habitat for big game species, predominately muledeerand elk. During the last fiveyears, the Grady Ranches provided habitat for 18 to 49 percent ofelk and 22 to 76 percent ofmule deer wintering in hunting district 343. These habitats are utilized by a diverse group ofnongame as well as game species. Big game species include black bear, elk, mule deer and a limited number of white tailed deer. Other species include red fox, badger, coyote, fisher, martin, wolverine and an occasional wolfand lynx. Uplandgamebirds includeruffedgrouse, bluegrouseandanoccasional sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarianpartridge. Other bird species include long-billed curlew, goshawk, merlin and a variety ofowls and woodpeckers. Thirty-one species classified as Species ofSpecial Interest or Concernby the State ofMontana occur in the latilong inclusive ofthe Grady Ranches. Species classified as sensitive according to the Federal Endangered Species Act, that occur in this area include the ferruginous hawk, lynx, wolverine, flammulated owl and boreal owl. A list of potential species using this area is contained in Appendix A. In recent years, there have been numerous sales of small tracts for rural residential use in the Canyon Creek area. Much ofthe Grady Ranch has high rural residential subdivision potential, # FIGURE 1 # € •