BLM LIBRARY Butte Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement VOLUME II September 2008 K- The Bureau ol Land Management is responsible for the stewardship of our public lands. It is committed to manage, protect, and improve these lands in a manner to serve the needs of the American people for all times. Management is based on the principles of multiple use and sustained yield of our nation's resources within a framework of environmental responsibility and scientific technology. These resources include recreation; rangelands; timber; minerals; watershed; fish and wildlife; wilderness; air; and scenic, scientific, and cultural values. BLM Library Denver Federal Center Bldg. 50, OC-521 RO. Box 25047 Denver, CO 80225 BLM/MT/PL-08/014+1610 W5U>W33512 I X>¥&DWj>M} TABLE OF CONTENTS - VOLUME II 200 CHAPTER 4 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES (CONTINUED). 513 V.2 Environmental Consequences of Five Site-Specific Travel Plans. 513 Analysis Assumptions. 513 Helena TPA.:. 514 Air Quality. 514 Soils. 515 Water Resources. 517 Vegetative Communities - Forest Resources and Forest and Woodland products. 519 Vegetative Communities - Noxious Weeds. 520 Vegetative Communities - Riparian Vegetation. 523 Wildlife. 524 Fish. 528 Special Status Plants. 531 Wildland Fire Management. 532 Cultural and Paleontological Resources. 533 Visual Resources. 534 Livestock Grazing. 534 Minerals... 535 Recreation. 535 Travel Management and Access. 537 Transportation Facilities. 540 Lands and Realty. 540 Special Designations. 541 East Helena TPA. 541 Air Quality... 541 Soils. 542 Water Resources. 544 Vegetative Communities - Forest Resources and Forest and Woodland Products. 547 Vegetative Communities - Noxious Weeds. 549 Vegetative Communities - Riparian Vegetation. 551 Wildlife. 552 Fish. 557 Special Status Plants. 560 Wildland Fire Management. 561 Cultural and Paleontological Resources. 563 Visual Resources. 563 Livestock Grazing. 563 Minerals. 564 Recreation. 565 Travel Management and Access. 566 Transportation Facilities. 569 Lands and Realty. 570 Special Designations.. 571 ITEM HAS BEEN DIGITIZED / Lewis and Clark County NW TPA.571 Air Quality.571 Soils. 572 Water Resources.574 Vegetative Communities - Forest Resources and Forest and Woodland Products.577 Vegetative Communities - Noxious Weeds.578 Vegetative Communities - Riparian Vegetation.580 Wildlife.582 Fish.589 Special Status Plants.592 Wildland Fire Management.593 Cultural and Paleontological.595 Visual Resources.595 Livestock Grazing.596 Minerals.596 Recreation.597 Travel Management and Access.598 Transportation Facilities.601 Lands and Realty.602 Special Designations.603 Boulder/Jefferson City TPA.603 Air Quality.603 Soils.604 Water Resources.606 Vegetative Communities - Forest Resources and Forest and Woodland Products.609 Vegetative Communities - Noxious Weeds.611 Vegetative Communities - Riparian Vegetation.613 Wildlife.615 Fish.620 Special Status Plants.623 Wildland Fire Management.624 Cultural and Paleontological Resources.625 Visual Resources.626 Livestock Grazing.626 Minerals.627 Recreation.628 Travel Management and Access.628 Transportation Facilities.631 Lands and Realty.631 Special Designations..632 Upper Big Hole River TPA.632 Air Quality.632 Soils.633 Water Resources.635 Vegetative Communities - Forest Resources and Forest and Woodland Products.638 Vegetative Communities - Noxious Weeds.640 Vegetative Communities -Riparian Vegetation.642 ii Wildlife.643 Fish.649 Special Status Plants.652 Wildland Fire Management.653 Cultural and Paleontological Resources.655 Visual Resources...655 Livestock Grazing.656 Minerals.656 Recreation.657 Travel Management and Access.658 Transportation Facilities.661 Lands and Realty.661 Special Designations.662 Cumulative Effects of Travel Plans at the Planning Area Scale.662 Air Quality.662 Soils.662 Water Resources.663 Vegetative Communities - Forest Resources and Forest and Woodland Products.664 Vegetative Communities - Noxious Weeds.665 Vegetative Communities -Riparian Vegetation.666 Wildlife. 667 Fish.673 Special Status Plants.675 Wildland Fire Management.675 Cultural and Paleontological Resources.677 Visual Resources.677 Livestock Grazing.677 Recreation.678 Travel Management and Access.678 Transportation Facilities.682 CHAPTER 5 CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION.683 Introduction.683 Scoping and Public Involvement Prior To the Draft RMP/EIS.683 Travel Management Planning.683 Collaborative Efforts.683 Travel Management Working Groups.683 Release of the Draft RMP/EIS.684 Formal Consultation.685 Fish and Wildlife Service Consultation.685 State Historic Preservation Office Consultation.685 Tribal Consultation.685 Informal Consultations.686 Public Comments on the Draft RMP/EIS.686 Addressing Public Comments.686 Comment Categories and Commenter Names.687 Index of Comment Codes.688 List of Commenters/Codes.689 iii Comments and Responses. 692 Distribution of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS.883 List of Preparers. 885 REFERENCES CITED.891 GLOSSARY.,.903 INDEX. 925 LIST OF TABLES Table 4-48 BLM Road Miles in Erosion Impact Categories for the Helena TP A.521 Table 4-49 BLM Acres in Road Density Categories for the Helena TPA.523 Table 4-50 Miles of Road on BLM Lands Near Perennial Streams for the Helena TPA.524 Table 4-51 Miles of Road/Trail by Alternative Near All Streams in the Helena TPA.529 Table 4-52 Decision Area Road Densities within Elk Winter Range in the Helena TPA.530 Table 4-53 Decision Area Acres of Big Game Security Habitat in the Helena TPA.531 Table 4-54 Access to Mineral Potential Areas in Helena TPA.541 Table 4-55 Helena TPA Route Management Summary.543 Table 4-56 Helena TPA Route/Trail/Maintenance Costs.546 Table 4-57 Helena TPA ROWs/Leases.547 Table 4-58 BLM Road Miles in Soil Erosion Impact Categories for the East Helena TPA.549 Table 4-59 Acres of BLM Land in Road Density Categories by Alternative for the East Helena TPA.551 Table 4-60 Miles of Road on BLM Lands Near Perennial Streams for the East Helena TPA.551 Table 4-61 Miles of BLM Road by Alternative Near All Streams in the East Helena TPA.557 Table 4-62 Decision Area Road Densities within Elk Winter Range in the East Helena TPA.559 Table 4-63 Decision Area Acres of Big Game Security Habitat in the East Helena TPA.559 Table 4-64 Access to Mineral Potential Areas in East Helena TPA.570 Table 4-65 East Helena TPA Route Management Summary.572 Table 4-66 East Helena TPA Route/Trail/Maintenance Costs.576 Table 4-67 East Helena TPA ROWs/Leases.576 Table 4-68 BLM Road Miles in Erosion Impact Categories for the Lewis/Clark County NW TPA.578 Table 4-69 BLM Acres in Road Density Categories for the Lewis and Clark County NW TPA.581 Table 4-70 Miles of Road on BLM Lands Near Perennial Streams for the Lewis and Clark County NW TPA.581 Table 4-71 Miles of BLM Road by Alternative Near All Streams in the Lewis and Clark County NW TPA.587 Table 4-72 Decision Area Road Densities within Elk Winter Range in the Lewis and Clark County NW TPA.589 Table 4-73 Decision Area Acres of Big Game Security Habitat in the Lewis and Clark County NW TPA.589 Table 4-74 Road Density in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem Distribution Zone of Grizzly Bear.590 Table 4-75 Access to Mineral Potential Areas in Lewis and Clark County NW TPA.603 Table 4-76 Lewis & Clark TPA Route Management Summary.605 Table 4-77 Lewis & Clark County NW TPA Route/Trail/Maintenance Costs.608 Table 4-78 Lewis and Clark TPA ROWs/Leases.608 Table 4-79 BLM Road Miles in Erosion Impact Categories for the Boulder/Jefferson City TPA.611 Table 4-80 BLM Acres in Road Density Categories for the Boulder/Jefferson City TPA.613 Table 4-81 Miles of Road on BLM Lands Near Perennial Streams for the Boulder/Jefferson City TPA.613 Table 4-82 Miles of BLM Road Near All Streams in the Boulder/Jefferson City TPA.619 Table 4-83 Decision Area Road Densities within Elk Winter Range in the Boulder-Jefferson City TPA.621 Table 4-84 Access to Mineral Potential Areas in Boulder/Jefferson City TPA.633 Table 4-85 Boulder/Jefferson City TPA Route Management Summary.635 Table 4-86 Boulder/Jefferson City TPA Route/Trail/Maintenance Costs.637 iv Table 4-87 Boulder/Jefferson City TPA ROWs/Leases.638 Table 4-88 BLM Road Miles in Erosion Impact Categories for the Upper Big Hole River TPA.640 Table 4-89 Acres of BLM Land in Road Density Categories by Alternative for the Upper Big Hole River TPA.642 Table 4-90 Miles of Road on BLM Lands Near Perennial Streams in the Upper Big Hole River TPA.642 Table 4-91 Miles of BLM Road Near All Streams in the Upper Big Hole River TPA.648 Table 4-92 Decision Area Road Densities within Elk Winter Range in the Upper Big Hole River TPA.650 Table 4-93 Decision Area Acres of Big Game Security Habitat in the Upper Big Hole River TPA.650 Table 4-94 Access to Mineral Potential Areas in Upper Big Hole River TPA.663 Table-4-95 Upper Big Hole TPA Route Management Summary.664 Table-4-96 Upper Big Hole Route/Trail/Maintenance Costs.667 Table 4-97 Upper Big Hole TPA ROWs/Leases.668 Table 4-98 Acres of BLM Land in Road Density Categories for All Decision Area Lands.669 Table 4-99 Decision Area Road Densities within Elk Winter Range by Big Game Analysis Area - Alternative A.673 Table 4-100 Decision Area Acres of Big Game Security Habitat Lield Office-wide by Alternative.674 Table 4-101 Core and Subcore Areas - Approximate Acres by Road Density Category.674 Table 4-102 High and Moderate Quality Corridors - Approximate Acres by Road Density Category.675 Table 4-103 Low Quality Corridors - Approximate Acres by Road Density Category.675 Table 4-104 Decision Area Road Densities Within Elk Winter Range by Big Game Analysis Area - Alternative B.676 Table 4-105 Decision Area Road Densities within Elk Winter Range by Big Game Analysis Area - Alternative C ....677 Table 4-106 Decision Area Road Densities Within Elk Winter Range by Big Game Analysis Area - Alternative D ...678 Table 4-107 Decision Area Acres in Road Density Categories by Alternative by Watershed.679 Table 4-108 Miles of Open Roads within 300 Leet of Streams - Decision Area.680 Table 4-109 Miles of Closed Roads within 300 Leet of Streams - Decision Area.680 Table 4-110 Comparison of Past/Present Travel Management for Butte Lield Office TPAs with Recent Travel Plans. 685 Table 4-111 Comparison of Past/Present Travel Management for the North Belts TPA on Helena National Lorest.686 Table 4-112 Summary of Summer Opportunities by Road/Trail Miles, Gallatin National Forest .686 Table 4-113 Summary of Winter Opportunities by Miles, Gallatin National Forest.686 Table 4-114 Status of Transportation System at the Field Office Scale by Alternative.687 Table 4-115 Field Office Wide Route/Trail Annual Maintenance Costs.688 Table 5-1 List of Contributors.894 v CHAPTER 4 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES - CONTINUED ENVIRONMENTAL Transportation Facilities CONSEQUENCES OF FIVE SITE- • Road maintenance will be conducted on routes des¬ SPECIFIC TRAVEL PLANS ignated as Open and Restricted. • Annual road maintenance is estimated at $400/mile This section discusses effects of alternatives for five for this analysis. site-specific travel plans (implementation decisions). • Annual trail maintenance is estimated $200/mile for After a discussion of Analysis Assumptions, the section this analysis and would only be performed on moto¬ is organized by travel planning area such that all effects rized trails. (including cumulative effects) are described for the vari¬ ous resources and resource uses contiguously for each • Periodic road stabilization is estimated at $40/mile specific travel planning area. Alternatives for the Hele¬ for this analysis. na, East Helena, Lewis and Clark County NW, Bould¬ • Periodic trail stabilization is estimated at $20/mile er/Jefferson City, and Upper Big Hole River Travel for this analysis and would only be performed on Planning Areas (TPAs) are discussed. motorized trails. Adjustments made to the Preferred Alternative for travel • Twenty percent of Open/Restricted routes will re¬ management between the Draft RMP/EIS and the Pro¬ quire annual maintenance. posed RMP/Final EIS were assessed to be so minor as to • Eighty percent of Open/Restricted routes will re¬ not cause any marked changes in analyses or conclu¬ quire periodic maintenance. sions based on road management. Therefore, while ac¬ tual road mileage changes are reflected for each TP A • Monitoring/compliance costs are estimated at where pertinent in the Proposed RMP/Final EIS, road- $50/mile for this analysis. based analyses (such as road density calculations, road- • Weed control is estimated for this analysis at 2.5 based moving windows analyses, mileage distribution by acres of spraying/mile of road at $ 15/mile. soil erosion impact categories, economic analyses) were not re-done since the Draft RMP/EIS. Air Quality Analysis Assumptions • Visitor use and demand for recreational motorized use is expected to continue to increase, resulting in Travel Management and Access higher vehicle emissions (exhaust gasses, particu¬ lates) levels. • Designating roads as either “Open Yearlong,” “Open with Restrictions,” or “Closed Yearlong” • Most BLM roads and motorized trails have dirt or would improve travel management and protection of granitic surfaces. Few have been paved or graveled. natural resources. This situation is unlikely to change, due to budget restraints, and user preference. Motorized travel • Comprehensive inventories of all existing routes across these substrates creates airborne dust. Wind would be used. erosion of these substrates also creates airborne • Routes were considered non-motorized if they were dust. In sufficient quantities, airborne dust could existing trails, closed roads or decommissioned pose a safety hazard (visual obstruction), or act as a roads. respiratory irritant. • Visitor-use and demand is likely to continue to in¬ • Drier climate conditions could make unimproved crease for both motorized as well as non-motorized route surfaces (soil road base) more susceptible to users. motorized erosion, resulting in higher levels of air¬ • Demand for adequate public and agency access to borne dust. public lands will remain high in the future. Soil Resources • Changes in OHV and snowmobile design and tech¬ nology will continue, enabling OHV users to travel • BLM roads will continue to be maintained, with into areas that were once thought of as inaccessible priority placed on those most heavily used by the due to terrain and water or soil features. public. • Analysis of the travel system only included routes • State and major county roads will continue to be documented during the inventory period. maintained to current levels and generally, county roads will not be abandoned. BLM facilities, mainly Butte Proposed RMP/Final EIS 513 Chapter 4 roads, will continue to be maintained, with priority project work, in addition to watering native surface placed on those most heavily used by the public. roadbeds, speed limits could be reduced to further mi¬ nimize dust emissions. • Natural process assumptions include: roads in the Butte Field Office will continue to erode from natu¬ Effects of the Alternatives ral causes, increased vegetative cover would lead to reduced soil erosion, and removal of conifer en¬ Under Alternative A (present management), adverse croachment could minimize accelerated soil erosion. impacts to air quality would be expected to continue, and likely increase, concurrent with higher levels of mo¬ Water Resources torized recreational use. Each of the action alternatives, however, would provide fewer available motorized • Natural process assumptions include: roads in the routes. Alternatives B and C would provide 80 percent Butte Field Office will continue to erode from natu¬ and 85 percent fewer motorized routes respectively than ral causes resulting in potential impacts on water Alternative A, while Alternative D would provide 58 quality in adjacent streams, increased vegetative percent fewer routes than Alternative A. As a result, cover will lead to reduced soil erosion and in certain airborne dust and vehicle emissions would be taking instances reduced deposition of sediments into place on fewer BLM routes and could be reduced. streams, and removal of conifer encroachment could result in an increased quantity of water. It should be noted that even without motorized use, air¬ borne dust, resulting from wind erosion of exposed na¬ HELENA TPA tive surface roads will continue. Therefore, travel plans with more miles of native surface roads would result in The Helena TPA area contains 10,162 acres of BLM more airborne dust. lands within the 95,492-acre TPA. The majority of lands Under all alternatives, mitigation measures, such as in the TPA are privately owned (56,499 acres) with USFS lands making up a substantial portion as well graveling and /or watering native surface roads, could (23,911 acres). The approximately 52.2 miles of BLM reduce dust emissions even further, and/or help offset roads make up about 7.5 percent of the approximate total the effects of increased or concentrated use on the re¬ of 694 road miles in the entire TPA. Most roads (528 maining open routes. miles) are on private lands. Cumulative Effects on Air Quality Air Quality Under all alternatives, the cumulative effects to air quali¬ ty from travel management in the Helena TPA would Effects Common to All Alternatives arise from a number of past, present, and reasonably Motorized recreation use is expected to continue to in¬ foreseeable future actions on BLM lands as well as non- crease, resulting in higher levels of vehicle emissions. BLM lands. Motorized travel across dry unpaved routes or trails For perspective, BLM managed lands in the Helena Tra¬ would continue to produce airborne dust. vel Plan area represent approximately 11 percent of the total travel planning area (95,492 total acres, 10,162 There could be areas with localized air pollution as a BLM acres). Under present management (Alternative A) result of higher use numbers, and more concentrated use BLM routes represent a small portion, approximately 7.5 on fewer miles of available routes. percent, of the total routes available (693 total miles, Drier climate conditions could make soils more suscept¬ 52.2 miles BLM roads/trails). Potential air quality im¬ ible to the effects of motorized travel, resulting in higher pacts associated with activities on non-BLM lands and levels of airborne dust. roads would be a greater contributor to cumulative ef¬ fects to air quality than activities on BLM lands and Impacts to air quality vary by alternative and travel plan roads. area. In general, alternatives that reduce the level of mo¬ torized use (have fewer available miles) could have a In the past, prior to the 2003 Statewide OHV ROD, positive impact on air quality; while alternatives that BLM management allowed unrestricted cross country maintain or increase the level of motorized use, could travel by all forms of wheeled motorized use. Under lead to increased air quality impacts. This would not present management, in the absence of other existing necessarily be a direct relationship, however, because travel plan direction, all motorized wheeled travel is reduction in available road miles for motorized use restricted to existing roads and trails. Under current could redistribute use or focus more use on remaining management, all BLM routes in the Helena TPA are open routes. open yearlong. This mileage available for use would be reduced under the action alternatives as described above Under all alternatives, impacts from airborne dust could with associated potential differences in effects to air be reduced through mitigation such as hardening native quality. surface roads with gravel or periodically spraying them with water trucks during the dry season. During BLM 514 Butte Proposed RMP/Final EIS