FISHERIES BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

Transcription

1 FISHERIES BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION BULL TROUT (Salvelinus confluentus) WESTSLOPE CUTTHROAT TROUT (Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi) WESTERN PEARLSHELL MUSSEL (Margaritifera falcata) BITTERROOT NATIONAL FOREST REGION 1, MONTANA Project Name: Roaring Lion Fire Salvage Sale Prepared by: Michael Jakober, South Zone Fisheries Biologist Ranger District: Darby Date Prepared:November 14, 2016 On July 10, 1998, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) listed bull trout as a threatened species within the Columbia River Basin. Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 as amended, requires all Federal agencies to review actions authorized, funded, or carried out by them to ensure such actions do not jeopardize the continued existence of listed species. This biological assessment and evaluation (BA/BE) evaluates potential effects of the proposal on bull trout core areas and local populations within the Clark Fork Recovery Unit. A core area represents the closest approximation of a biologically functioning unit for bull trout. Emphasis is placed on securing the existing distribution within core areas and increasing the abundance and connectivity of local populations (USFWS, 2002). However, the determination of the effects of this project was based on the projects effects to individual bull trout. The Bull Trout Recovery Plan (USFWS, 2015a), including the Columbia Headwaters Recovery Unit Implementation Plan, delineates the Bitterroot River drainage downstream of Painted Rocks Reservoir as a core area within the Clark Fork Recovery Unit. Fourteen local bull trout populations are designated within the Bitterroot River Core Area. None of the local populations are located within the action area (the Roaring Lion Creek drainage) for this project. The 2010 final rule for the designation of critical habitat for the Columbia River population of bull trout (USFWS, 2010) designated critical habitat in the Bitterroot River watershed. No critical habitat is present within the action area (the Roaring Lion Creek drainage) for this project. The nearest critical habitat is located in the Bitterroot River, which is downstream of the action area. The critical habitat in the Bitterroot River is designated as foraging, migratory, and overwintering (FMO) habitat. A biological evaluation (BE) evaluating potential effects of this project on westslope cutthroat trout and western pearlshell mussels is incorporated within this document. The westslope cutthroat trout has been designated as a Sensitive species on the Bitterroot National Forest for many years. The western pearlshell mussel was designated as a Sensitive species on the Forest in This BA/BEassisted the Bitterroot National Forest (Forest) in determining that the Roaring Lion Fire Salvage Project is not likely to adversely affect (NLAA) bull troutin Roaring Lion Creek, and would have no effect on the nearest downstream bull trout critical habitat in the Bitterroot River. This BA/BE is designed to satisfy the requirements of the Forest Service and USFWS, and describes the: 1. Project Location 2. Action Area 3. Project Description 4. Existing Conditions and Environmental Baseline 5. Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects 6. Matrix Checklist 7. Compliance with INFISH and the Forest Plan 8. Determination of Effects to Bull Trout, Bull Trout Critical Habitat, and Sensitive Species 9. References Cited 10. Summary and Signature 1

2 1. Project Location The Roaring Lion Fire Salvage Project is located in Ravalli County a few miles southwest of Hamilton, Montana on the Darby Ranger District of the Bitterroot National Forest. The project area consists of a narrow strip of severely burned forest lands on either side of Forest Service Road (FSR) 710 bordered by the Roaring Lion and Sawtooth trailheads. Map 1 displays the vicinity map for the project. Map 1. Project Vicinity Map 2. Action Area The action area is defined as the geographic extent of potential effects on bull trout and bull trout critical habitat resulting from the Proposed Federal Action. The action area includes all of the aquatic habitats that could potentially be affected by the Proposed Federal Action. The action area for the Roaring Lion Fire Salvage Project is the 4.7 mile long segment of Roaring Lion Creek that occurs between the Bitterroot River and the Roaring Lion trailhead. The action area is located in the lower end of NRCS 6th code HUC (HUC 1001). The bordering drainages north (Sawtooth Creek) and south (Judd Creek) of the Roaring Lion Creek drainage were not included in the action area because no project activities would occur in those drainages, and there would be no project effects. The Roaring Lion Creek drainage is 16,112 acres in area. 15,464 acres (or 96%) of the drainage is in Bitterroot National Forest ownership. The Roaring Lion drainage is predominantly a wilderness watershed 99% of the Forest Service land in the drainage is designated wilderness (Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area). The lower 4% (about 650 acres) of the Roaring Lion drainage lies downstream of the 2

3 Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area. It consists of mostly unroaded Bitterroot National Forest lands and closer to the Bitterroot River, mixed woodlands, hayfields, and scattered homes on private lands. Roaring Lion Creek enters the Bitterroot River on private lands a couple of miles south of Hamilton, MT. This salvage sale project is located on the non-wilderness Forest Service lands that are sandwiched between private land and the Roaring Lion trailhead, which accesses the wilderness. Map 2 displays the action area. Map 2. Action Area for the Roaring Lion Fire Salvage Project 3. Project Description The Proposed Federal Actionanalyzed in this BA/BEis the salvage harvest of fire-killed trees on about 45 acres of Forest Service land in the Roaring Lion Creek drainage. The trees were killed by a high severity wildfire (Roaring Lion Fire) on July 31, The Roaring Lion Fire was started by an escaped campfire on July 31 st. It eventually grew to about 8,700 acres in area and burned down 16 homes and 49 other buildings. The salvage harvest would occur in four areas totaling about 45 acres: 1. Unit 1 in the Westside Collaborative Vegetation Managementproject area(27 acres, Photo 1) 2. A 200-foot wide strip around the perimeter of the Sawtooth trailhead parking area (Photos 2& 3) 3. A 200-foot wide strip around the perimeter of the Roaring Lion trailhead parking area (Photo 4) foot wide strips along both sides of a 0.4-mile long segment of Forest Service Road (FSR) 710 (Photo 5) 3

4 Each of these areas is described in greater detail below. Map 3, which is attached to the back of this BA/BE, displays the areas proposed for salvage harvest. The total amount of timber volume that would be removed is estimated at 1,117 CCF, which equates to about 113 log truck loads. Westside unit 1 Most of the acreage (27 of the 45 acres) proposed for salvage in this project is in Westside unit 1. Prior to the wildfire, unit 1 had been approved for commercial harvest with a green tree improvement cut in the July 2016 Westside Collaborative Vegetation ManagementDecision Notice. On December 23, 2015, the Forest received a concurrence letter from the Service on the Westside project, which included the green tree harvest in unit 1. Unit 1 is an upland unit that is located on the south side of FSR 710 (i.e. the side away from Roaring Lion Creek) at the mouth of the Roaring Lion canyon. Unit 1 is more than 300 feet away from any streams or wetlands, and in most places, is more than 600 feet away. The proposed salvage harvest of unit 1 is anticipated to have no effect on the fishery in Roaring Lion Creek. Photo 1 shows the existing condition in unit 1. Photo 1. Conditions in unit 1 4

5 Sawtooth trailhead The Sawtooth trailhead consists of a circular parking area that is located between 250 and 400 feet from Roaring Lion Creek (Photo 2). The proposed action is to salvage dead trees from a strip surrounding the perimeter of the circular parking area. In the areas further from Roaring Lion Creek, the strip would be 200 feet wide and would leave enough room for a 150-foot wide no activity RHCA buffer along the south side of Roaring Lion Creek. In one place for a linear distance of about 100 feet, the no activity buffer would be narrowed down to 125 feet wide in order to accommodate a sufficient buffer and still be able to remove snags that are overhanging the parking lot (Photo 3). This narrowed area was marked by the project fisheries biologist (myself) in order to preserve potential woody debris recruitment and stream shading on Roaring Lion Creek. There is a well-defined slope break between the Roaring Lion Creek floodplain and an upland terrace. All of the salvage activities would take place on the upland terrace; all of the floodplain would be protected by the 150-foot wide no activity buffer. Photo 2 shows the existing condition around the Sawtooth trailhead. Photo 3 shows the 125-foot wide no activity buffer around Roaring Lion Creek adjacent to the Sawtooth trailhead. Photo 2. Conditions at the Sawtooth trailhead 5

6 Photo 3. No activity buffer was narrowed to 125 feet for a short distance adjacent to the Sawtooth trailhead. The pink flagline is the boundary of the no activity buffer. All trees to the left of the flag line would be retained. The slope break is visible between the flag line and the stream. Roaring Lion Creek is visible at the far left hand side of the photo. 6

7 Roaring Lion trailhead The Roaring Lion trailhead consists of a widened turn-around at the western terminus of FSR 710 (Photo 4). The trailhead is feet from Roaring Lion Creek. The proposed action is to salvage dead trees from a 200-foot wide strip surrounding the perimeter of the trailhead. There would be a 150-foot wide no activity RHCA buffer along the south side of Roaring Lion Creek. There is a well-defined slope break between the Roaring Lion Creek floodplain and an upland terrace. All of the salvage activities would take place on the upland terrace; all of the floodplain would be protected by the 150-foot wide no activity buffer. Photo 4 shows the existing condition around the Roaring Lion trailhead. Photo 4. Conditions at the Roaring Lion trailhead 7

8 FSR 710 roadsides FSR 710 is the only road access and haul route for this project. FSR 710 is paved for 1.8 miles between US Highway 93 and the Forest boundary, and is native surface on a mix of Forest Service and private land for its last 1.6 miles. It terminates at the Roaring Lion trailhead. FSR 710 is almost entirely located > 300 feet from Roaring Lion Creek. It crosses one small intermittent stream a short distance east of the Roaring Lion trailhead. The proposal is to salvage snags from a 200-foot wide strip on both sides of FSR 710 for a distance of 0.4 road miles. At the crossing of the intermittent stream, the salvage strip would be reduced to 100 feet wide on either side of the road. An estimated 113 log truck loads would be hauled down FSR 710 to US Highway 93. Photo 5 shows the existing condition along FSR 710. Photo 5. Conditions along FSR 710 The purpose of the project is to eliminate, to the degree possible, snag tree hazards to the public at trailheads, parking areas, and along road sides in the Roaring Lion Creek drainage. All of the trees in the project area are dead and black. The trees in the removal areas would be cut and skidded using groundbased logging methods (tractor/skidders) during winter conditions. Whole trees would be skidded to a landing and the slash piled and burned and/or scattered. All skidding would occur in winter under suitable frozen ground/snow conditions. No road construction of any kind would occur. The following design features would be applied to this project. 1. A no activity RHCA buffer strip of 150 feet width will be applied to the south side of Roaring Lion Creek. The no activity strip will be narrowed to 125 feet for a linear distance of about 100 feet in order to safely remove some snags that are overhanging the parking area at the Sawtooth trailhead. The project fisheries biologist (myself) marked the no activity RHCA strip adjacent to the Sawtooth trailhead to ensure that potential woody recruitment to the Roaring Lion stream channel would be preserved. 8

9 2. For the intermittent stream that crosses FSR 710 east of the Roaring Lion trailhead, the 200 foot wide snag removal strip along the sides of the FSR 710 will be narrowed to a width of 100 feet within 50 feet of the stream crossing. No machinery will be allowed to operate within 50 feet of the intermittent stream channel, except for machinery operating off the driving surface of FSR Within the no activity buffer strips listed in (1) and (2), trees can be felled if they pose a safety risk to nearby workers. Hazard trees will be directionally felled towards Roaring Lion Creek and left on-site (INFISH standard RA-2). 4. All harvest activities will be implemented during times of suitable winter yarding conditions. 5. There will be no road construction of any kind. 6. Ground-based equipment will be prohibited from entering Streamside Management Zones (SMZs) without theappropriate variance from Montana DNRC. 7. Any fuel storage, mixing of fuels, or refueling of equipment will occur on the driving surface of FSR 710, greater than 300 feet from Roaring Lion Creek. 8. The Timber Sale Administrator (TSA) with the assistance of resource specialists will monitor road conditions during winter hauling to ensure that a suitable ice/snow base is present and significant ice rutting and/or melting of the ice/snow base is not occurring. If periods of warmer weather occur and the ice/snow base is melting, the TSA has the authority to suspend or limit truck traffic to protect road integrity and minimize erosion. 9. Road maintenance activities (primarily snow plowing) will follow the requirementsspecified in the Programmatic Biological Opinion for Road-Related Activities (USFWS, 2015b). For this project, that means that drainage holes will be installed in the snow berm prior to winter haul, and kept open throughout the duration of winter hauling. Also, any inlets and outlets ofditch relief pipes will be kept free of snow blockage. 4. Existing Conditions and Environmental Baseline 4.1 Data Collection The information presented in this section of the BA/BE was obtained with the following methods: The distribution and abundance of bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout in Roaring Lion Creek were determined by Bitterroot NF snorkel surveys. The snorkel surveys were conducted in August, The stream habitat and INFISH Riparian Management Objective (RMO) data referenced in this BA/BE was collected during snorkel surveys, with HOBO thermographs, and from a PACFISH/INFISH (PIBO, USDA Forest Service, 2012) monitoring reach (#2229). PIBO reach #2229 is located at the wilderness boundary about 1.5 miles upstream of the Roaring Lion trailhead; it was surveyed in 2007 and Bull Trout Populations Bull trout numbers continue to decline in much of their range in the western United States, including many core area populations in western Montana. The two greatest threats to their continued existence are curtailment and degradation of their habitat, and competition with introduced species (USFWS, 2008). Bull trout core area populations in western Montana continue to decline. The most recent bull trout five year status review (USFWS, 2008) supported maintaining the bull trout listing as threatened throughout its range noting that with few exceptions, core area populations are not increasing and threats have not been removed. Recent re-surveys of mid 1990 s bull trout sites in the East Fork Bitterroot River drainage 9

10 indicate that over the past 20 years, site extirpations exceeded site colonization s and were more frequent at warm, low elevation sites (USFWS, 2015a; Eby et al. 2014). The Roaring Lion Fire Salvage Project is located within the Bitterroot River Core Area. The Bitterroot River Core Area s migratory bull trout appear to be declining and are at very low numbers. Monitoring indices for this core area are inadequate for monitoring trend, due to the sparse fluvial and fragmented resident populations. Fewer fish are captured with similar effort than in previous years. Nearly all of the bull trout in the Bitterroot River Core Area consist of isolated resident populations. There are no designated bull trout local populations in the action area; however, there is a small bull trout population in Roaring Lion Creek that likely consists of resident fish and maintains a tenuous and part-time connection to the Bitterroot River. Snorkel surveys found low numbers of resident-sized bull trout starting near the Roaring Lion trailhead (stream mile 4.7) and continuing upstream to a point approximately 2.5 miles upstream in the wilderness (stream mile 7.2). Snorkeling of most of the section that parallels this project in August 2015 did not reveal bull trout. The areas upstream of the Roaring Lion trailhead (stream mile 4.7 to 7.2) are likely spawning and rearing (SR) habitat, and the areas downstream of the trailhead are likely foraging, migratory, and overwintering (FMO) habitat. Brook trout are common in Roaring Lion Creek and overlap the distribution of bull trout. The furthest upstream that we have snorkeled is in the wilderness at stream mile 8.2, and brook trout were still common at that point. It is clear that brook trout greatly outnumber bull trout in Roaring Lion Creek. The nearest bull trout critical habitat is in the Bitterroot River, which is about 3.5 miles downstream of the Forest boundary on Roaring Lion Creek. The critical habitat in the Bitterroot River is FMO habitat. Due to warm summer temperatures, the Bitterroot River may only provide suitable bull trout habitat during the colder times of the year. Below the Forest boundary, Roaring Lion Creek is severely affected by water withdrawal for irrigation. The effects of dewatering begin near the Forest boundary, but are most severe on the private lands closer to the Bitterroot River where the cumulative effect of several diversions completely dewaters the stream during the summer irrigation season. To the best of our knowledge, none of the diversions contain fish screens. Map 4 displays the occupied bull trout habitat and bull trout critical habitat in HUC 1001, the action area, and the nearby Bitterroot River. 10

11 Map 4. Occupied Bull Trout Habitat and Bull Trout Critical Habitat 4.3 Westslope Cutthroat Trout Populations Westslope cutthroat trout are common-to-abundant throughout the Forest Service portions of Roaring Lion Creek, and uncommon in the sections on private land closer to the Bitterroot River. At stream mile 8.2 in the wilderness, the highest point that we have sampled in Roaring Lion Creek, westslope cutthroat trout were still common. The life history make-up of the westslope cutthroat trout population in Roaring Lion Creek is not clear. The majority of fish are probably residents, but there may still be some migratory component. The Forest Service sections of Roaring Lion Creek provide SR habitat for westslope cutthroat trout. Limited genetic testing conducted in the 1990 s indicated that the westslope cutthroat trout population was pure. There are no stocked headwater alpine lakes in the Roaring Lion drainage, which is a favorable situation for maintaing genetic purity. 4.4 Western Pearlshell Mussel Populations The western pearlshell mussel was added to the Bitterroot National Forest s sensitive species list in It is the only native mussel that occurs west of the Continental Divide in Montana. The preferred habitat is cool to coldwater running streams with stable pebble and gravel substrates and low to moderate gradients (1-2%) (Stagliano, 2010: pgs 25-26). These types of streams are generally equivalent to the Rosgen C4 channel type (Rosgen, 1996: pgs 5-96 to 5-99). The average wetted stream width that viable western pearlshell mussel populations have been found in is 5.2 m plus/minus 1 m (14-20 feet) (Stagliano, 2010: pg 25). Western pearlshell mussels are usually absent in streams smaller than 2 m (6.6 feet) wide. Sometimes, western pearlshell mussels are found in larger rivers embedded in sand or gravel substrates tucked among boulders and cobbles. An example of this on the Bitterroot NF would be the Selway River. Western pearlshell mussels require a salmonid host to complete their life cycle. In western Montana, that host is usually the westslope cutthroat trout. 11

12 So far, western pearlshell mussels or shells have only been found in six streams on or near the Bitterroot National Forest. The six streams are: 1. Cameron Creek (mouth to upper end of Shining Mountain Ranch) 2. Little Sleeping Child Creek (lower reaches below private irrigation ponds) 3. East Fork Bitterroot River (near mouths of Laird and Cameron creeks, only shells were found) 4. West Fork Bitterroot River (near Applebury Landing boat launch) 5. Bitterroot River (near Darby) 6. Selway River (multiple locations) The viability of the western pearlshell mussel populations in Cameron Creek and Little Sleeping Child Creek is rated as good/fair, while the populations in the East and West Forks of the Bitterroot River are rated as having poor viability (Stagliano, 2015; pgs 32-33). The viability of the Bitterroot River population is rated as fair/poor (Stagliano, 2015, pg 32). The Selway River population is not included in Stagliano s reports (2010, 2015), and is the healthiest population on the Bitterroot NF. In the action area, Roaring Lion Creek does not appear to provide suitable habitat for western pearlshell mussels. The stream is a high gradient A2 channel dominated by boulder substrates, and it lacks the deposits of smaller sand/gravel substrates needed by mussels. 4.5 Environmental Baseline The environmental baseline incorporates the past and present impacts of all federal, state, or private actions and other human activities in the action area. The 50 CFR states: The environmental baseline includes the past and present impacts of all Federal, State, or private actions and other human activities in the action area, the anticipated impacts of all proposed Federal projects in the action area that have already undergone formal or early section 7 consultation, and the impact of State or private actions which are contemporaneous with the consultation in process. There are no adverse ongoing actions in the baseline in the action area that have not been through section 7 consultation. Effects of past and ongoing activities within the Forest are summarized in the 2010 draft watershed baseline. In order to assess habitat conditions in the draft baseline, GIS layers were compiled to assess features on the Forest, including: barriers to fish movement, road density and proximity to streams, and the portion of watersheds in wilderness or unroaded settings. This information was then refined to assess the most important attributes of bull trout habitat: temperature, barriers, pools, and sediment (Table 1). These attributes mirror the well-established four Cs that summarize good bull trout habitat cold, clean, complex, and connected. For a complete list of habitat indicators important to bull trout and their functioning condition class see Section 6, Matrix Checklist. GIS rated the functional indicators in HUC 1001as functioning appropriately (FA) (Table 1). No changes have been made to those ratings. Table 1 summarizes the current functional ratingsin HUC 1001, and also lists the percent of HUC 1001 s land base that is either designated wilderness or inventoried roadless lands. Table 1. Functional Ratings for Temperature, Barriers, Pools, and Sediment in HUC Indicator 2010 GIS ratings Temperature FA Barriers FA Pools FA Sediment FA % wilderness 95 or inventoried roadless lands in the HUC 12

13 4.5 INFISH RMOs INFISH RMOs in Roaring Lion Creek were assessed with data collected in PIBO monitoring reach #2229. Temperature data was collected with HOBO thermographs in Surveys of lower Roaring Lion Creek were complicated by the presence of an inholding of private land sandwiched between the Sawtooth and Roaring Lion trailheads. Private inholdings within the greater National Forest boundary are managed with different goal and objectives, but affect the National Forest lands and stream segments downstream. Four of the default INFISH RMOs were evaluated for this project: (1) pool frequency; (2) large woody debris frequency; (3) wetted width-depth ratio; and (4) water temperature. The wetted width-depth ratio RMO is not discussed in detail because its default value of < 10 has been shown to be a poor descriptor of healthy channel conditions on reference streams (Overton et al. 1995; Archer et al. 2006). The default RMOs for bank stability and lower bank angle were not evaluated for this project because they are only applicable in non-forested systems. Roaring Lion Creek is a forested system. Table 2 summarizes the current status of the INFISH RMOs in Roaring Lion Creek. Table 2.Roaring Lion Creek, HUC 1001 (mean wetted width = 25 to 50 feet) Pool Frequency (# per mile) Large Woody Debris (# per mile) Mean Maximum Water Temp. (F ) Wetted Width/Depth Ratio Surface Fines Existing RMO Existing RMO Existing RMO Existing RMO Existing RMO 34 > 26 > 50 > <59 46 none* (meets) (meets) (high) (high) < 10 3% < 2 mm 18%< 6 mm *Surface fines is not an RMO, but is a good indicator of stream health. The dominant geology of the Roaring Lion Creek watershed is granitics. That geologic type has naturally higher amounts of fines. Pool Frequency - The RMO for pool frequency is based on stream width. In the project area, Roaring Lion Creek has a mean wetted width between 25 and 50 feet. The RMO is 26 to 47 pools per mile. The PIBO reach contains 34 pools per mile (Table 2), which meets the RMO. Residual pool depth is 1.04 meters, which indicates good pool depths. GIS rates the Pool Frequency & Quality and Large Pools indicators in HUC 1001 as FA. The PIBO field data supports those ratings. Large Woody Debris Frequency The RMO for large wood is > 20 pieces per mile. PIBO does not count INFISH sized pieces of wood, which makes it somewhat difficult to estimate the amount of INFISH sized woody pieces. PIBO counts a smaller piece of wood called a category 1 piece, which has to be > 1 meter long and > 0.1 meters in diameter. The PIBO reach contains 1440 pieces per mile, which is a high number that is indicative of reference conditions. If you conservatively estimate that only 5% of those category 1 pieces are large enough to quality as INFISH pieces, you still get 72 pieces per mile, which is well above the RMO. The segment of Roaring Lion Creek downstream of the Roaring Lion trailhead has a low amount of wood due to its steep gradient and predominance of large boulders. The steep gradient tends to produce water velocities that move large wood from the segment, and the boulders provide the habitat complexity and many pools. In summary, Roaring Lion Creek is meeting the large wood RMO on the watershed scale, but large wood is naturally lower in the action area due to steep gradient, high water velocities during certain times of the year, and the predominance of large boulder substrates. GIS rates the Large Woody Debris indicator in HUC 1001 as FA. The PIBO field data supports that rating. Wetted Width-Depth Ratio In the PIBO reach, Roaring Lion Creek has a wetted width-depth ratio of 46 (Table 2), which does not meet the RMO. The bankfull width-depth ratio is 13.8, which is within the reference range for its channel type (Rosgen, 1996). PIBO estimates the stream channel to be 98% stable. The stream banks contain high rock content. GIS rates the Wetted Width/Max Depth Ratio and Streambank Condition indicators in HUC 1001 as FA. The PIBO field data supports those ratings. Mean-Maximum Water Temperature The RMO for water temperature depends on the type of habitat offered by a particular stream. The action area portion of Roaring Lion Creek is foraging, migratory, and 13

14 overwintering (FMO) habitat. The RMO for that type of habitat is a mean-maximum temperature < 59º F over the warmest 7-day period of the year. In summer 2015, Roaring Lion Creek near the Roaring Lion trailhead had a mean-maximum temperature of 64º F (Table 2), which is warmer than the RMO but indicative of natural conditions. The temperature monitoring site drains wilderness conditions, and in 2015, was unaffected by fires or past forest management activities. GIS rates the Temperature indicator in HUC 1001 as FA. Our field data supports that rating. Sediment - Sediment is not one of the default RMOs in the INFISH strategy, but it is one of the most important habitat features for bull trout (Rieman and McIntyre, 1993). In the PIBO reach, the percent surface fines < 2 mm was estimated at 3%, and the percent< 6 mm was estimated at 18% (Table 2). These numbers indicate clean substrates with low levels of fines. The portion of Roaring Lion Creek in the action area is dominated by large boulder substrates with low amounts of fines. GIS rates the Sediment and Substrate Embeddedness indicators in HUC 1001 as FA. The PIBO field data supports those ratings. 5. Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects 5.1 Direct and Indirect Effects Overview Project activities are not anticipated to produce any visible or measurable changes to fish populations or fish habitat quality in Roaring Lion Creek. Potential negative effects, such as increases in the amount of sediment getting into Roaring Lion Creek, has a very low risk of occurring because of project layout and the use of design features (section 3). Design features include winter yarding and restricted operations within RHCAs that are tailored to limit the potential for eroded soils to move toward streams. Salvage Harvest With winter yarding restrictions and 125 to 150 foot wide no activity buffer strips surrounding Roaring Lion Creek, it is very unlikely that any disturbed soils caused by skidding would be able to produce sediment inputs into Roaring Lion Creek. In addition to winter conditions, the slope of the land where the skidding would occur is also relatively flat. When combined with snow on the ground and frozen soils, this would substantially limit the ability of eroded sediments to move significant distances towards the stream. The no activity buffer strips surrounding Roaring Lion Creek are wide enough to preserve all of the existing stream shade and potential recruitment of large wood to the stream channel. Because of tree height and distance from the stream channel, none of the trees that would be removed are capable of shading or able to contribute wood to Roaring Lion Creek. Within the next two decades, most of the snags that are located within the no activity buffer strips are going to blow down, which will substantially increase the amount of large wood (and the complexity of fish hiding cover) in Roaring Lion Creek. The amount of acreage that is salvaged (45 acres) would be too small to affect watershed-scale processes such as stream discharge, snow distribution and the timing of snowmelt runoff, and stream channel stability and erosion in Roaring Lion Creek. Log Hauling FSR 710 is the haul route for this project. FSR 710 is paved for 1.8 miles between US Highway 93 and the Forest boundary, and is native surface on a mix of Forest Service and private land for its last 1.6 miles. It terminates at the Roaring Lion trailhead. FSR 710 has a relatively gentle grade, and is almost entirely located > 300 feet from Roaring Lion Creek (Photo 5). It crosses one small intermittent stream a short distance east of the Roaring Lion trailhead. An estimated 113 log truck loads would be hauled down FSR 710 to US Highway 93. The hauling would occur in winter when the road surface is covered with an adequately frozen ice/snow base. Assuming that the winter haul is properly managed and ice rutting does not occur, there is very low risk of hauling traffic causing eroded road sediments to get into Roaring Lion Creek. The distance between the road edge and the stream is always > 250 feet, and in most places is > 300 feet. The topography between the road and the creek is also relatively flat, and at the time the hauling is occurring, would be covered with snow and have frozen soils. 14

15 5.2 Cumulative Effects Cumulative effects for consultation under the ESA are the effects of future State or private activities not involving Federal activities that are reasonably certain to occur within the action area[50 CFR ]. This definition applies only to ESA consultation and should not be confused with the broader use of this term in the National Environmental Policy Act or other environmental laws. For this project, the cumulative effects analysis area consists of the Roaring Lion Creek drainage, HUC Table 3 summarizes the activities on private lands and any State and County activities that could potentially combine with the Proposed Federal Actions to produce cumulative effects on bull trout. Table 3. Private, State, or County Activities with Potential to Contribute Cumulative Effects. STATE, COUNTY, OR PRIVATE ACTIVITY EXTENT INTENSITY AND DURATION EFFECT OF ACTIVITY Water withdrawals for irrigation Salvage harvest on burned private lands Residential development Extensive Extensive Scattered Severe effect and long-term duration. Below the Forest boundary, Roaring Lion Creek is severely affected by water withdrawal for irrigation. The effects of dewatering begin near the Forest boundary, but are most severe on the private lands closer to the Bitterroot River where the cumulative effect of several diversions completely dewaters the stream during the summer irrigation season. To the best of our knowledge, none of the diversions contain fish screens. Moderate effect and duration. Most of the burned private lands will be salvaged logged within the next few years. Some salvage is already occurring, such as the private parcel immediately downstream of the Forest boundary and the private inholding sandwiched between the Sawtooth and Roaring Lion trailheads. The private salvage is supposed to comply with the Montana SMZ Law, but in most cases, private salvage removes more snags than Forest Service salvage, and definitely more snags closer to the stream channel of Roaring Lion Creek that provide shade and potential recruitment of large wood. Also, ground disturbance is more extensive on private lands. Insignificant to locally substantial. Most riparian impacts occur at the habitat unit scale. At the reach scale, impacts are more diffuse and scattered. People tend to like to build homes close to the creek, and in the foreseeable future, there is likely to be more new home construction on private lands near Roaring Lion Creek. Significant Loss of potential habitat in lower Roaring Lion Creek during the summer months, and seasonal severing of the connection with the Bitterroot River. Also potential of entrainment of bull trout individuals in unscreened irrigation ditches. Significant the private salvage that occurs along Roaring Lion Creek will remove snags close to the stream channel and result in reductions in stream shading, reductions in large wood recruitment in future years, and higher potential for harvestgenerated sediment inputs. Insignificant to locally substantial. Residential development tends to be somewhat concentrated near waterways. It results in scattered and localizedincreases in solar exposure and losses of bank stability and woody debris recruitment in bull trout FMO habitat. The Roaring Lion Fire Salvage Project is unlikely to cause any visible or measurable changes in fish populations and fish habitat quality in Roaring Lion Creek (section 5.1). For that reason, it is also unlikely to combine with the activities in Table 3 to produce visible or measurable cumulative effects on bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout individuals, populations, and habitat in Roaring Lion Creek. 5.3 Predicted Effects to Matrix Indicators No major or minor changes are anticipated to the functional levels of any of the indicators (Table 4). Project activities are expected to maintain all of the existing functional levels, which are currently FA. 15

16 6. Matrix Checklist The baselines ratings in Table 4 are FA- functioning appropriately; FAR functioning at risk; or FURfunctioning at unacceptable risk. Table 4. Matrix Checklist. Diagnostic/Pathways: Indicators Subpopulation Characteristics: Roaring Lion Cr 1001 Predicted Effect of Project Subpopulation Size FAR Maintain Growth & Survival FUR Maintain Life History Diversity & Isolation FUR Maintain Persistence and Genetic Integrity FUR Maintain Water Quality Temperature FA Maintain Sediment FA Maintain Chemical Contamination / Nutrients FA Maintain Habitat Access Physical Barriers FA Maintain Habitat Elements Substrate Embeddedness FA Maintain Large Woody Debris FA Maintain Pool Frequency & Quality FA Maintain Large Pools FA Maintain Off-Channel Habitat FA Maintain Refugia FA Maintain Channel Condition and Dynamics Wetted Width/Max Depth Ratio FA Maintain Streambank Condition FA Maintain Floodplain Connectivity FA Maintain Flow / Hydrology Change in Peak/Base Flows FA Maintain Drainage Network Increase FA Maintain Watershed Conditions Road Density & Location FA Maintain Disturbance History FA Maintain Riparian Conservation Area FA Maintain Disturbance Regime FA Maintain Integration of Species & Habitat Condition FA Maintain 16

17 7. Compliance with INFISH and the Forest Plan On the Montana portion of the Bitterroot National Forest, the goals, objectives, and standards for fisheries are contained in two documents: The Bitterroot Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service, 1987: pgs II-3, II-5 to 6, II-20 to 21, III-22 to 27, III-23 to 26) The INFISH Decision Notice (USDA Forest Service, 1995) The parts of the Forest Plan and INFISH pertinent to this project are discussed below, with a short summary of how they are addressed in this project. It is clear that the Forest Plan and INFISH take a strong and consistent view that impacts should be minimized in riparian areas, and where projects do occur in riparian areas, they should be implemented in a manner that maintains water quality and meets fisheries objectives to the degree possible Forest Plan The applicable parts of the 1987 Forest Plan are summarized below. Applicable Forest-wide goals for fish are to provide habitat to support viable populations of native and desirable non-native wildlife and fish ; maintainhabitat for the possible recovery of threatened and endangered species ; and maintain riparian flora, fauna, water quality, and recreation activities (USDA Forest Service, 1987: pg II-3). The Forest-wide goal for water is to maintain soil productivity, water quality, and water quantity (USDA Forest Service, 1987: pg II-24). Applicable Forest-wide management objectives for fish are to maintain habitat to support current populations of catchable trout ; maintain or enhance fish habitat by maintaining riparian habitat and its potential to replace woody debris ; and reduce sediment from existing roads (USDA Forest Service, 1987: pg II-5). A Forest-wide management objective for water is to manage riparian areas to prevent adverse effects on channel stability and fish habitat (USDA Forest Service, 1987: pg II-6). The 1987 Forest Plan only contains three Forest-wide standards for fish. These are: (1) cutthroat trout populations will be used as an indicator of fisheries habitat changes ; (2) watershed project analysis will estimate the effects of sediment on fish habitat ; and (3) the habitat needs of sensitive species will be considered in all project planning (USDA Forest Service, 1987: pgs II-20 and II-21). Applicable Forestwide standards for water and soils are site specific water quality effects will be evaluated and control measures designed to ensure that the project will meet Forest water quality goals ; projects that will not meet State water quality standards will be redesigned, rescheduled, or dropped and soil and water conservation practices will be a part of project design and implementation to ensure soil and water resource protection (USDA Forest Service, 1987; pgs II-24 and II-25). The Roaring Lion Fire Salvage Project is located in Management Areas (MA) 5 and 3b. MA 5 consists of semi-primitive recreation and elk security lands. MA 3b consists of the riparian habitat 100 feet on either side of streams, or the area defined by water-influenced vegetation, whichever is greater. MA 3b lands are usually surrounded by, or are inclusions within other MAs. There are no specific fish goals or standards for MA 5lands. Applicable fish standards for MA 3b state nonfisheries riparian areas will be managed to provide for old growth, woody debris recruitment water quality, and downstream fisheries capability ; stream channel equilibrium and downstream fisheries habitat capability will be maintained by protecting the riparian characteristics needed to naturally filter overland flows stabilize stream channels, and provide woody debris ; interdisciplinary teams will analyze the effect of each project on riparian areas ; and timber management activities will be programmed to meet fisheries, water quality, and wildlife objectives (USDA Forest Service, 1987: pgs III-23 and III-24). 17

18 The Roaring Lion Fire Salvage Project, as described in Section 3 of this BA/BE, would comply with the 1987 Forest Plan. INFISH INFISH (USDA Forest Service, 1995) amended the Bitterroot Forest Plan in August, The INFISH amendment to the Forest Plan added 39 new standards that regulate activities in riparian areas. A completed listing of the INFISH standards can be found on pages A-6 to A-13 of the INFISH Decision Notice (USDA Forest Service, 1995). The INFISH standards that are most relevant to this project are: TM-1a Where catastrophic events such as fire, flooding, volcanic, wind, or insect damage result in degraded riparian conditions, allow salvage and fuelwood cutting in RHCAs only where present and future woody debris needs are met, where cutting would not retard or prevent attainment of other Riparian Management Objectives, and where adverse effects can be avoided to inland native fish. For priority watersheds, complete watershed analysis prior to salvage cutting in RHCAs. INFISH standard TM-1a allows salvage of fire-killed trees to occur in RHCAs where fire has degraded riparian conditions as long asall of the following requirements are met: 1. Fire damage has resulted in degraded riparian conditions; 2. Present and future woody debris needs are being met; 3. Salvage removal activities would not retard or prevent the attainment of other RMOs(in this project, those RMOs are pools, large wood, water temperature, and stream channel dimensions); 4. There would be no adverse effects on fish; and 5. If the cutting occurs within an INFISH priority watershed, a Watershed Analysis must be completed that documents the rationale for salvage cutting within the RHCAs. The Roaring Lion Creek drainage is not designated as an INFISH priority watershed. The Roaring Lion Fire Salvage Project would be consistent with INFISH standard TM-1a because all of these requirements would be met. Fire has clearly degraded riparian conditions the entire area is black, and all of the vegetation has been burned off. Present and future woody debris needs in Roaring Lion Creek are being met (section 4.5), and woody debris recruitment is going to increase substantially over the next two decades as the fire-killed snags fall over. Salvage harvest activities would not retard or prevent attainment of the other RMOs (section 5.1). There would be no adverse effects on fish (sections 5 and 6), and finally, the Roaring Lion Creek drainage is not designated as an INFISH priority watershed. RF-2b Minimize road and landing locations in RHCAs. The Roaring Lion Fire Salvage Project would be consistent with INFISH standard RF-2b. There would not be any road construction, and the log landings would be located along the shoulders of FSR 710 and on existing road templates at the Roaring Lion and Sawtooth trailheads. RF-2d Avoid sediment delivery to streams from the road surface. The Roaring Lion Fire Salvage Project would be consistent with INFISH standard RF-2d. Project-related traffic, particularly log hauling operations, would be monitored by the TSA or resource specialists to ensure that roads are not contributing sediment to streams. Hauling will cease and other project-related traffic would be regulated during warm periods to protect roads from damage and reduce the potential for erosion and sediment delivery. RA-2 Trees may be felled in RHCAs where they pose a safety risk. Keep felled trees on site when needed to meet woody debris objectives. The Roaring Lion Fire Salvage Project would be consistent with INFISH standard RA-2. If snags within the no activity zones pose a safety hazard to nearby workers, they would be directionally felled towards Roaring Lion Creek and left on site. 18

19 RA-4 Prohibit storage of fuels and other toxicants within RHCAs. Prohibit refueling within RHCAs unless there are no other alternatives. Refueling sites within RHCAs must be approved by the Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management and have an approved spill containment plan. The Roaring Lion Fire Salvage Project would be consistent with INFISH standard RA-2. Fuels and other toxicants would not be stored within RHCAs. Refueling of equipment would occur on the driving surface of FSR 710, outside of RHCAs. To summarize, the Roaring Lion Fire Salvage Project would be consistent with the goals, objectives and standards of the Forest Plan as amended by INFISH. 8. Determination of Effects to Bull Trout, Bull Trout Critical Habitat, and Sensitive Species 8.1 Bull Trout The determination of effect on bull trout was determined by using the dichotomous key for making ESA determination of effects (USFWS, 1998), and by referencing the USFWS (2014) table that outlines specific terms, definitions, criteria and wording for use in section 7 consultation documents. Selected choices in the key are highlighted in YELLOW. 1. Are there any proposed/listed fish species and/or proposed/designated critical habitat in the watershed or downstream from the watershed? No...No effect Yes (or unknown)......go to 2 2. Will the Proposed Federal Action(s) have any effect whatsoever on the species; and/or critical habitat? No...No effect Yes (May Affect)......go to 3 3. Does the proposed action(s) have the potential to hinder the attainment of relevant functioning appropriately indicators? No...go to 4 Yes...Likely to adversely affect 4. Does the proposed action(s) have potential to result in adverse effects on listed fish species or destruction/adverse modification of designated critical habitat? There is a negligible (extremely low) probability of project activities having adverse effects on bull trout or causing destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat The effect of the Proposed Federal Actions is "May Affect - Not Likely to Adversely Affect (NLAA)" bull trout. The NLAA determination was selected because the Proposed Federal Actions are anticipated to have insignificant and undetectable impacts on bull trout individuals and habitat. 8.2 Bull Trout Critical Habitat Federally authorized, funded, or implemented activities require consultation to ensure that they are not likely to destroy or adversely modify bull trout critical habitat. The 2010 Final Rule designating bull trout critical habitat was published in the Federal Register on October 18, 2010 (USFWS, 2010; 75 FR 63898). The Final Rule designated critical habitat in one stream (the Bitterroot River) that is downstream of the action area (Map 4). The 2010 Final Rule established nine primary constituent elements (PCEs). Each PCE and its corresponding habitat indicators from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Matrix of Pathway Indicators (USFWS, 1998) are displayed below. The PCEs are highlighted in italics; the matrix indicators are underlined. A rationale explaining the relationship between the PCEs and indicators is provided. 19

20 PCE 1. Springs, seeps, groundwater sources, and subsurface water connectivity (hyporehic flows) to contribute to water quality and quantity and provide thermal refugia. Project activities would generally occur outside of areas that influence springs, seeps, groundwater sources, and subsurface water connectivity. These areas have been avoided through project design. There would be no effect on downstream critical habitat in the Bitterroot River, which is located > 2.5 miles downstream of the project area. The relevant indicators (Sediment, Substrate Embeddedness, Drainage Network Increase, Road Density & Location, Riparian Conservation Area) in the baseline matrix (Table 4) would be maintained. PCE 2. Migratory habitats with minimal physical, biological, or water quality impediments between spawning, rearing, overwintering, and freshwater and marine foraging habitats, including but not limited to permanent, partial, intermittent, or seasonal barriers. Project activities would not create physical, biological, or chemical barriers to bull trout movement. Water temperatures would not be affected by snag removal because all of the snags that provide shade on Roaring Lion Creek would be retained. Implementation of the design features reduces the risk of fuel spills/chemical contamination to discountable levels. Project activities would have no measurable effect on stream flows or channel dimensions. The amount of acreage that is salvaged (45 acres) would be too small to affect watershed-scale processes such as stream discharge, snow distribution and the timing of snowmelt runoff, and stream channel stability and erosion in Roaring Lion Creek. The relevant indicators (Barriers, Temperature) in the baseline matrix (Table 4) would be maintained. PCE 3. An abundant food base, including terrestrial organisms of riparian origin, aquatic macroinvertebrates, and forage fish. Project activities would have a negligible effect on the aquatic and terrestrial food base. The area was burned at high severity, which killed most of the terrestrial organisms. Project activities would not alter the stream temperature regime or nutrient inputs, which are going to strongly influence the health and composition of the aquatic food base in the years going forward. Sediment and substrate embeddedness are the habitat indicators with the most potential to alter the aquatic food base; however, this project is very unlikely to contribute any visible or measurable amounts of sediment to Roaring Lion Creek. The relevant indicators (Temperature, Nutrients, Sediment, Substrate Embeddedness, Riparian Conservation Area) in the baseline matrix (Table 4) would be maintained. PCE 4. Complex river, stream, lake, reservoir, and marine shoreline aquatic environments and processes that establish and maintain these aquatic environments, with features such as large wood, side channels, pools, undercut banks and unembedded substrates, to provide a variety of depths, gradients, velocities, and structure. Project activities would maintain instream habitat complexity and the processes (large wood recruitment, unembedded substrates) that create complex habitats. The relevant indicators (Sediment, Substrate Embeddedness, Large Woody Debris, Pool Frequency & Quality) in the baseline matrix (Table 4) would be maintained. PCE 5. Water temperatures ranging from 2 to 15 C (36 to 59 F), with adequate thermal refugia available for temperatures that exceed the upper end of this range. Specific temperatures within this range will depend on bull trout life-history stage and form; geography; elevation; diurnal and seasonal variation; shading, such as that provided by riparian habitat; streamflow; and local groundwater influence. Project activities would maintain all of the shade that is currently being provided by dead trees on Roaring Lion Creek. The stream temperature regime albeit greatly altered by the fire would not be altered because of project activities. There would be no effect on temperatures in the Bitterroot River, which is > 2.5 miles downstream. The relevant indicator (Temperature) in the baseline indicator (Table 4) would be maintained. 20