WSP07926 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

CHAPTER FOUR precluded as a result of desi~ating rights.-of-way avoidance areas in the Planning Area. RIghts of way development and disturbance to species and habitat would be precluded on 135 acres at 27 sage grouse leks where rights-of-way are excluded. Seasonal stipulations on rights-of-way related construction would prevent disturbance on 134,751 acres of crucial big game winter range, 3,402 acres of sage grouse nesting habitat and 2,605 acres .of brood rearing habitat, and 15,112 acres of potential bighorn sheep lambing areas during critical periods. Impacts from Rlghts-of-~ay. .~orri.d~r Management. Construction of major utilities Within two designated corridors would result in removal of wildlife habitat, the amount depending on necessary construction clearing. CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ON WILDLIFE HABITAT Removal of and disturbance to crucial winter range, elk calving areas and sage grouse habitat from vegetation trea~ents, logging, and potential locatable mineral activity would be offset by other resource management outputs and stipulations, seasonal restrictions, and habitat increases and better vegetation management throughout the planning area, especially in sagebrush and riparian zones. Disturbance to species from human and other activity would be reduced on most habitat types during crucial periods. Timber harvest and management guidelines would help improve game and non-game wildlife and habitats. Increased forage and improved forage quality, and herd size management on crucial winter range would help meet CDOW's long-range elk and deer herd goals, and big game populations could be permitted to increase to eventual desired carrying capacities. Sage grouse, pronghorn antelope, and bighorn sheep numbers would increase to 1,000 harvestable grouse, 500 antelope, and 500 bighorn sheep. Road densities could increase as a result of forest management, resulting in disturbance to species and removal of habitat. Removal and abandonment of habitat could occur as a result of constructing facilities, and increased recreation visitation. IMPACTS ON FISHERY RESOURCES (AQUATIC HABITAT) IMPACTS FROM PROPOSED MANAGEMENT ACTIONS Impacts (rom Fishery Resources (Aquatic Habitat) Management. Implementing measures in all. ~lans for surface disturbance to prevent or OlIt1gate damage/1oss of fishery stream channels and riparian habitat would result in maintaining or improving the conditions of fIShery resources Planning Area-wide. Implementing fishery improvements and projects from activity plans would stabilize and restore stream banks and improve fIShery resources as these plans are carried out. Acquiring instream flow water rights on 113 miles of fishery streams would insure sufficient water to maintain the present fISh populations. Impacts from Locatable Minerals Management. FIShery streams within 54,077 acres withdrawn from mineral entry and location would be protected from localized loss of habitat or habitat quality reduction that could occur from mining-related surface disturbance. Habitat loss due to sedimentation and channelization would be greatest if mineral development on the remainder of public lands were to occur in alluvial soils along or in streambanks. Impacts from Saleable Minerals Management. Some sedimentation within fishery streams would result from mineral material-related surface disturbance on about 666,530 acres where disposal is authorized, but mitigation required for riparian areas soils and water resources, and fIShery streams , . f would minimi7e the magnitude and longeVIty 0 impacts. Impacts (rom Soil and Water Resources Management. Vegetation treatments designed to reduce soil erosion would enhance aquatic habitat by decreasing the amount and frequency of runoff and sediments entering the streams. 4-64