TELL CITY WINDTHROW 2004 PROJECT, TELL CITY RANGER DISTRICT, HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST, PERRY, CRAWFORD, AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA. [Part 9 of 27]

• Published in: EPA number: 050528, Summary--17 pages, Draft EIS-324 pages, Map Supplement, 2005
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2005
• Subjects: Burning (Prescribed); Employment; Fire Prevention; Forests; Hoosier National Forest; Indiana; Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960, Compliance; National Forest Management Act of 1976, Compliance; Roads; Timber; Timber Management; Vegetation; Weather; Wildlife Habitat

PURPOSE: The implementation of a plan to salvage timber in the Tell City Windthrow 1004 project area within the Tell City Ranger District of the Hoosier National Forest, Perry, Crawford, and Dubois counties, Indiana is proposed. The 127,905-acre project area, which encompasses 60,646 acres of national forest land and 67,259 acres of land in other ownership, is bounded by State Road (SR) 64 to the north, SR 66 and the forest boundary to the east, the forest boundary to the south, and several county roads and the forest boundary to the west. During the summer of 1004, several widespread, sever thunderstorms occurred across Illinois, southern Indiana, and central Kentucky, causing significant wind damage. On the Hoosier National Forest, the storm of July 13, 2004 was most notable, producing winds estimated to be near 80 miles per hour. Heavy rain and high winds altered the forest structure due to numerous down and damaged trees. Approximately 4,005 acres of blowdown were field verified on the ground and mapped within an eight-mile-wide corridor running 25 miles from Birdseye, Indiana southeast to the Ohio River. Key issues identified during scoping include those related to fire hazards created by logging activities, the impact of salvage harvest on terrestrial and aquatic habitat, soil erosion and compaction due to harvest and road construction activities, and the spread of invasive plant species in harvested areas and areas subject to prescribed burning. Four alternatives, including a No Action Alternative (Alternative 4), are considered in this draft EIS. The originally proposed action (Alternative 1) would involve implementation of 3,100 acres of salvage harvest, generating 7.6 million board-feet (MMBF) of timber. To reduce fuels and provide ecological benefits, 5,500 acres of prescribed burning. Transportation management measures would include construction of 7.8 miles of temporary that would be decommissioned after harvesting was complete, reconstruction of 10.7 miles of system road, construction of 0.67 miles of new system road, and maintenance work on 19.42 miles of road. The preferred alternative (Alternative 2) would involve implementation of 2,850 acres of salvage harvest, generating 7.1 million board-feet (MMBF) of timber. To reduce fuels and provide ecological benefits, the plan would include 5,616 acres of prescribed burning. Transportation management measures would include construction of 4.3 miles of temporary that would be decommissioned after harvesting was complete, reconstruction of 9.8 miles of system road, construction of 3.16 miles of new system road, and maintenance work on 17.3 miles of road. Estimated net cash flow under the preferred alternative would result in a loss of $58,192. POSITIVE IMPACTS: The proposed plan would address safety concerns along roads, trails, other high-use areas, and property boundaries. Wildfire risk due to fuels created by downed and dying trees would be reduced significantly. The salvaged trees would help meet local and regional timber product needs and salvage operations would provide a source of income for local workers and businesses. Salvage harvest would also return the area to a condition closer to the natural forest composition and help promote oak-hickory regeneration on the forest, thus encouraging species diversity. NEGATIVE IMPACTS: Timber harvest, road construction, and prescribed burning would result in the destruction of vegetation and the associated wildlife habitat, disturbance of soil and the resulting erosion and sedimentation of receiving streams and other bodies of surface water, damage to heritage resources, and degradation of visual resources. Prescribed burning and the use of heavy equipment would also result in temporary degradation of air quality. Approximately 1.5 MMBF of hardwood and pine sawtimber that could be salvaged would be foregone, reducing potential revenues by $63,437. LEGAL MANDATES: Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960 (16 U.S.C. 528 et seq) and National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.).