Categorical Exclusion - Bureau of Rec. Access Roads, fuel breaks

Bureau of Land Management Lake Havasu Field Office 2610 Sweetwater Avenue Lake Havasu City, AZ 86406

Categorical Exclusion Assignment, Review and Approval Name of Project:

Fuels Reduction - Breaks for BOR Access Roads Location (legal description) T. 8_N. R. 23_E. T. 7_N. R. 23_E. T. R. Applicant (s): LHFO Fuels program (Matthew Bossler)

CX-AZ-330-07-036 NEPA Number: June 15, 2007 Date: 2823-JQ; 2824-JT Sub-activity: Case/Project No: Type: Mechanical Section: 4, 8, 9, 15, 26, 36 Section: 6 Section:

Reviewed by NEPA Coordinator: Gina Trafton

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Description of Proposed Action: Like much of the riparian area of the Lower Colorado river, the BLM-managed land, including portions of withdrawn Bureau of Reclamation land, between I-40 and the Needles Golf course, on the California side of the Colorado River (an approximately 10 mile stretch,) has become dominated by invasive plants of the genus Tamarix.

In combination with the altered hydrological regime, the tamarisk invasion threatens to completely eliminate the remaining native vegetation of this area, as has been seen in portions of the nearby Topock marsh, and elsewhere around the state and region. This invasion by the fire-tolerant Tamarisk plant has changed the fire regime of this area from one of infrequent, low-severity surface burns, to frequent, high-severity canopy fires, resulting in a heavily departed classification (Fire Regime Condition Class 3.) Experience within this area has shown that following major wildfires, such as those occurring in 1988 and 1993, invasive vegetation and arrowweed recruits much more aggressively than other native vegetation. In addition, the continuity of fuels in this area, combined with its frequent use by campers, transients, and day use visitors, poses the threat of severe wildfire to Park Moabi, and smoke interference with the nearby BNSF rail line.

The proposed action is to remove vegetation up to 50 feet of each side of the center lines of approximately 5-7 roads spanning the wooded portion of the riparian zone, depending upon the vegetation type. The target plants would be tamarisk, arrowweed, and Phragmites; mesquites, willows, cottonwoods, saltbushes, Mojave seablite, catclaw acacia, smoketree, seep willow, and creosote (confirmed identified on site) and other native vegetation may be treated by removing “ladder fuels,” including lower limbs, and isolating from surrounding vegetation. Work would be conducted primarily with tractor-mounted “bullhog” brush masticators, or hand crews in the areas surrounding native vegetation.

The primary purpose of this action would be to expand upon existing developed features to form a series of strategic fuel breaks of the contiguous riparian zone. Such a design would:  provide maneuverable space and increased safety to Fire Operations staff in the likely case of a riparian zone/tamarisk fire,  would decrease the extent of such wildfires,  would prevent further departure from the historical fire regime,  would protect the recreational and concessionaire infrastructure of Park Moabi and BNSF, and  would help preserve the proper functioning condition and habitat quality of remaining native vegetation, including multiple mesquite bosques.

Two currently disturbed areas occur within the recreationally-developed portions of Park Moabi. The first is the access road between Park Moabi and the “Peninsula” campgrounds. The second occurs approximately one mile north at the northern edge of the Park Moabi lease, and would incorporate an existing 2-track closed off by rock obstructions, and the northern-most “Peninsula” campground (#25.) North of Park Moabi, twelve E-W roads provide access to the Bureau of Reclamation – managed Colorado River frontwork and levee system (including jettees,) which is used to maintain the shoreline by preventing erosion; fuel breaks would be placed along three of these in order to break the riparian zone into approximately smaller contiguous stretches of riparian vegetation. The first of these occurs approximately three miles north along the „levee‟ road (1.3 miles north of the Beale Slough road fuel break,) dropping down from the bluffs. The second of these occurs approximately 3/4 mile north. The third is the southern-most road that extends to a jetty within the river, and is approximately 3/4 mile north of the previous road. Combined with the Beale Slough road fuel break, the Needles Revegetation area fuel break (covered under a previous CX,) and two fuel breaks maintained by other entities in the area south of the Needles Revegetation area, this action would stabilize the riparian zone, including native plants, between Park Moabi and the Needles bridge from further degradation and hazardous wildfire.

Where evidence indicates that the removal of vegetation may contribute to the spread of unauthorized OHV traffic, fencing (post and cable or T-posts and wire) and/or signage would be installed.

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BLM Categorical Exclusion Reference (516 DM 2, Chapter 1.12): DOI 516 DM 2, 1.12 Hazardous fuels reduction activities using prescribed fire not to exceed 4,500 acres, and mechanical methods for crushing, piling, thinning, pruning, chipping, mulching, and mowing, not to exceed 1,000 acres. Such activities: shall be limited to areas (1) in wildland-urban interface and (2) Condition Class 2 or 3 in Fire Regime Groups I, II, or III, outside the wildland-urban interface; Shall be identified through a collaborative framework as described in “A Collaborative Approach for Reducing Wildland Fire Risks to Communities and the Environment 10-Year Comprehensive Strategy Implementation Plan;” Shall be conducted consistent with agency and Departmental procedures and applicable land and resource management plans; Shall not be conducted in wilderness areas or impair the suitability of wilderness study areas for preservation as wilderness; Shall not include the use of herbicides or pesticides or the construction of new permanent roads or other new permanent infrastructure; and may include the sale of vegetative material if the primary purpose of the activity is hazardous fuels reduction. (Refer to the Environmental Statement Memoranda Series for additional, required guidance.)

Department of the Interior 516 DM 2, Appendix 2 provides for a review of the following categorical exclusion criteria to determine if exceptions apply to this project: Yes 2.1 Have significant adverse effects on public health or safety.

2.2 Have adverse effects on such unique geographic characteristics as historic or cultural resources, park, recreation or refuge lands, wilderness areas, wild or scenic rivers, sole or principal drinking water aquifers, prime farmlands, wetlands, floodplains, or ecologically significant or critical areas, including those listed on the Department's National Register of Natural Landmarks.

2.3 Have highly controversial environmental effects.

2.4 Have highly uncertain and potentially significant environmental effects or involve unique or unknown environmental risks.

2.5 Establish a precedent for future action or represent a decision in principle about future actions with potentially significant environmental effects.

2.6 Be directly related to other actions with individually insignificant but cumulatively significant environmental effects.

2.7 Have adverse effects on properties listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

2.8. Have adverse effects on species listed or proposed to be listed on the List of Endangered or Threatened Species, or have adverse effects on designated Critical Habitat for these species.

2.9. Require compliance with Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management), Executive Order 11990 (Protection of Wetlands), or the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act. 2.10 Threaten to violate a Federal, State, local or tribal law or requirement imposed for the protection of the environment.

No X X X X X X X X X X

The proposed project conforms to the following BLM management plans: 

Lake Havasu Field Office Resource Management Plan, May 10, 2007, Lake Havasu Field Office, Colorado River District, BLM.

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Describe site specific consultation and coordination with other agencies and affected interests:    

Bureau of Reclamation: consulted June 07, 2007 regarding source of two existing fuel breaks and effect of proposed action on levee and jettees.

Fort Mohave tribe: will be consulted with regarding short-term losses of native vegetation (arrowweed) and long-term benefits to all native vegetation.

Park Moabi: consulted June, 2007 regarding fuel break design within Park Moabi lease; preliminary approval.

Gas Pipeline: will be consulted regarding potential effects of bull-hogging on gas pipeline.

Technical Review : Critical Elements /Specialty

May Be Affected

Yes

No

If May affect / Mitigations Assigned

Air Quality

Signature Name/Title Cory Bodman

Areas of Critical Environmental Concern

Jill Miller-Allert

Cultural Resources/ Paleontological Resources

Sarah C Murray

Environmental Justice

Specialist

Farm Lands (Prime or Unique)

Specialist

Floodplain

Specialist

Native American Religious Concerns

Sarah C Murray

Threatened or Endangered Species

Angela Gatto

Wastes, Hazardous or Solid

Cathy Wolff-White

Water Quality, Drinking or Ground

Cory Bodman

Wetlands/Riparian Zones

Angela Gatto

Wild and Scenic Rivers

Jill Miller-Allert

Wilderness

Jill Miller-Allert

Invasive & Non Native Weeds

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Angela Gatto

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Date

Lands/Realty

Maria Rosalez

Law Enforcement

Mike Dodson

Operations/Engineering Review

Mike Henderson

Recreation

Myron McCoy

Visual Resources Management

Myron McCoy

Minerals

Amanda Dodson

Wild Horses/ Burros

Specialist

Range

Specialist

Health & Safety

Bill Parry

Review: We have determined that the proposal is in accordance with the categorical exclusion criteria and that it would not involve any significant environmental effects. Therefore, it is categorically excluded from further environmental review.

SIGNATURES Prepared by: Date: Project Lead Review by: Date: Supervisor Decision: Bureau of Land Management, Lake Havasu Field Office, has determined that this decision or action conforms to the land use plan, that none of the 10 exceptions apply, and that therefore neither an EA nor EIS is needed, The decision or action will be implemented subject to the stipulations attached to the authorizing document.

Approved By: Date: Field Manager, Lake Havasu Field Office Monitoring and assignment of responsibility: (Program or Employee): LHFO Fuels Program (928-505-1200) or [Mike Behrens, Arizona State Office, Arizona Fuels Program Manager – (602) 417-9305)]

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Exhibits: 1. Peninsula campground access road:

2. Peninsula campground #24/25

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3. Park Moabi and Peninsula from bluff

4. Bluff Road

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5. BOR Road #1

6. Dune/jettee BOR Road #2

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7. Map

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8. Park Moabi Fuel Breaks Map

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9. Bluff Road Fuel Break

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10. Jetty Road #1 Fuel Break Map

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11. Jetty Road #2 Fuel Break Map

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