Sierra National Forest, Bass Lake Ranger District, California, Whisky Ecosystem Restoration Project, 21721-21722 [2012-8661]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21721-21722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8661]


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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 70 / Wednesday, April 11, 2012 / 
Notices

[[Page 21721]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Sierra National Forest, Bass Lake Ranger District, California, 
Whisky Ecosystem Restoration Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Bass Lake Ranger District is proposing a series of 
ecological restoration treatments, east of the community of North Fork, 
California. This would be north of Cascadel Point, south of Shuteye 
Peak, and west of Whisky Ridge. Treatment areas have been initially 
identified to restore forest conditions to more closely resemble pre-
1900s stand structures which would result in forests that are more 
resilient and resistant to expected changes in climate and disturbance 
regimes. Treatments are needed to maintain or improve growth and vigor 
of conifer stands, reduce the spread and intensity of wildfires within 
and outside of the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and restore other 
ecological processes.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of this analysis should be 
received no later than 30 days after the publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register. The draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) 
is expected in December 2012 and the final environmental impact 
statement (FEIS) is expected in March 2013.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the U.S. Forest Service, Sierra 
National Forest, Bass Lake Ranger District, 57003 Road 225, North Fork, 
CA 93643, ATTN: David Martin. Comments may also be sent via email to 
comments-pacificsouthwest-sierra@fs.fed.us (use Rich Text format (.rtf) 
or Word format (.doc)) or via facsimile to (559) 877-3108.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such a way that they are useful to the Agency's preparation of 
the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of 
the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's 
concerns and contentions. Comments received in response to this 
solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will 
be part of the public record for the proposed action. However comments 
submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aimee Smith, Interdisciplinary Team 
Leader, at Sierra National Forest, Bass Lake Ranger District, 57003 
Road 225, North Fork, CA 93643. Individuals who use telecommunication 
devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay 
Services (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern 
Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background Information: The Whisky Ecosystem Restoration Project 
(Madera County, California) lies within the Willow Creek watershed, 
where impacts of early 1900's railroad logging and subsequent harvest 
activities on these federal and formerly private lands, combined with 
the exclusion of fire, have altered forest conditions within the 
Project area. Stand species composition has shifted from more fire 
resistant, shade intolerant pines to less fire resistant, shade 
tolerant fir and incense cedar. Prior to these activities, these 
forests were comprised of larger diameter pine dominated stands that 
were less susceptible to drought and fire. Frequent low to moderate 
intensity fires limited understory vegetation resulting in more open 
stand conditions. Currently, stands are more even aged, dense, and 
multilayered, dominated by second-growth (approximately 85 to 110 year-
old) less fire resistant, shade tolerant white fir and incense cedar. 
Decades of fire exclusion has resulted in excessive accumulations of 
down woody material.
    The Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project lies within the 
elevation range for the Southern Sierra Fisher Conservation Area. 
Public concern and management review surrounding the significance of 
potential impacts to the Pacific fisher and the California spotted owl 
during past projects has led to the decision to document the 
environmental analysis with an environmental impact statement (EIS) for 
this project. The US Fish and Wildlife Service currently list pacific 
fishers as a Candidate species for listing under the Endangered Species 
Act; while California spotted owls are a Forest Service Sensitive 
Species for Region 5.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of this Project is to promote ecosystem resilience, 
sustainability, and health under current and future conditions through 
the restoration of key ecological processes, biodiversity, wildlife 
habitat, and structural heterogeneity.
    The impacts of past railroad logging and subsequent harvest 
activities on these federal and formerly private lands, combined with 
the exclusion of fire, have altered forest conditions within the 
Project area. Stand species composition has shifted from more fire 
resistant, shade intolerant pines to less fire resistant, shade 
tolerant fir and incense cedar. There is a need to restore forest 
conditions within proposed treatment areas to more closely resemble 
pre-1900s stand structures which would result in forests that are more 
resilient and resistant to expected changes in climate and disturbance 
regimes. Proposed treatments are needed to maintain or improve growth 
and vigor of conifer stands, reduce the spread and intensity of 
wildfires and restore other ecological processes.
    There is a need to treat conifer stands to improve their resiliency 
to insect attack, diseases, wildfire, drought conditions, and increased 
stress on vegetation due to predicted warmer temperatures and longer 
periods of depleted soil moisture.
    Stocking levels (stand densities) have reached or are reaching 
density levels where declining growth and vigor is occurring from 
inter-tree competition thus increasing potential rates of tree 
mortality. Proposed thinning treatments would reduce the 
uncharacteristically high percentage of incense cedar and fir within 
stands. Thinning treatments would reduce inter-tree competition 
resulting in improved individual tree growth and vigor leading to 
accelerated development of larger diameter more resilient trees.
    Proposed treatments would provide a buffer between developed areas 
and wildland to protect communities from

[[Page 21722]]

moderate/high intensity wildfires, as well as minimizing the spread of 
wildfire originating from developed areas onto forested lands. There is 
a need to treat the surface (dead and down fuels) and ladder fuels to 
reduce the risk of spread and intensity of wildfire.

Proposed Action

    The Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project proposes to;
     Restore key wildlife structures and improve wildlife 
habitat by maintaining and restoring key components that are utilized 
for shelter, reproduction sites, resting or food sources;
     Increase resiliency of mixed conifer, pine and fir stands 
through density management by beginning the process of returning 
treatment areas to conditions more closely resembling those present 
prior to the early 1900s;
     Maintain or improve growth and vigor of pine, mixed 
conifer, and fir stands, as well as conifer plantations through density 
management;
     Minimize the effects of wildland fire in the high risk 
(probability of ignition occurring), high hazard (availability of fuels 
to sustain a fire) wildland urban intermix area, and surrounding forest 
by reducing the potential for uncharacteristically large and severe 
wildfire and facilitate conditions that result in low-to-moderate 
severity wildland fire;
     Treat surface and ladder fuels to reduce the potential for 
a surface fire to transition into a sustained crown fire;
     Allow for the reintroduction of fire as a process 
restoration tool;
     Recover failed conifer plantations and openings by 
planting conifers within specific sites;
     Use integrated weed management to prevent and control 
infestations of noxious weeds;
     Restore production and enhance vitality of culturally 
gathered plant material;
     Protect the historic values and characteristics of 
archaeological and historical cultural resources and improve their 
integrity by reducing fuels within cultural resource sites;
     Restore and stabilize degraded watershed features such as 
meadows, streams, and riparian features by improving channel stability;
     Decommission unapproved trails that are contributing to 
resource degradation;
     Review the Sierra National Forest Motorized Travel 
Management plan and determine if any roads within the Project area 
recommended for potential decommissioning should be addressed under 
this proposal;
     Minimize livestock impacts to riparian features by 
developing range improvements (e.g. off-site water developments).
    The Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project encompasses 18,285 
acres. Approximately 7,500 acres would be analyzed for treatments.

Possible Alternatives

    To comply with NEPA, the Forest Service will evaluate additional 
alternatives to the proposed action developed based on public comments. 
A no action alternative to provide a baseline for comparison to the 
action alternatives will be included within the EIS. Each alternative 
will be explored and evaluated, or rationale will be given for 
eliminating an alternative from detailed study.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Deciding Official is Scott G. Armentrout, Forest 
Supervisor, Sierra National Forest, 1600 Tollhouse Road, Clovis, CA 
93612.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Forest Supervisor will decide whether to implement the proposed 
action, take an alternative action that meets the purpose and need or 
take no action.

Scoping Process

    The notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. The project is 
included in the Sierra National Forest's quarterly scheduled of 
proposed actions (SOPA). Information on the proposed action will also 
be posted on the Sierra National Forests Web site, https://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=37829, and will also be 
advertised in both the Fresno Bee and the Oakhurst Sierra Star. This 
notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides the 
development of the environmental impact statement.
    Comments submited during this scoping period should be in writing 
and should be specific to the proposed action. The comments should 
describe as clearly and completely as possible any issues the comnenter 
has with the proposal. It is important reviewers provide their comments 
at such times in such a manner that they are useful to the agency's 
preparation on the environmental impact statement.

    Dated: April 4, 2012.
Scott G. Armentrout,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2012-8661 Filed 4-10-12; 8:45 am]
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