Livestock Use and Rangeland Management Specialist Report
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1 United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Southwestern Region Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands Livestock Use and Rangeland Management Specialist Report Kiowa, Rita Blanca, Black Kettle and McClellan Creek National Grasslands Plan Revision May 2011 Environmental Impact Statement Analysis Submitted by: /s/ Rick Newmon, Range Management Specialist Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands
2 2 Livestock Use and Range Management Specialist Report Executive Summary Under all alternatives, black-tailed prairie dogs (BTPDs) may reduce available forage for livestock. Under alternative A, available forage would increase, as 4,400 acres of shinnery oak would be converted to grassland. This alternative would have the grasslands develop miles of fence and water pipeline, and numerous watering facilities that are not needed and would be expensive. Alternatives B and C would not require these developments. Overview of the Affected Environment The Grasslands contain seven primary vegetation types. Suitability and capability of National Forest System land was determined in the 1985 Land and Resource Management Plan. The Grasslands were determined to be suitable at that time. These landscape scale conditions have not displayed an appreciable change since then. All vegetation types, except the deep plowed shinnery oak type, are within the historic range of variation. The deep plowed shinnery oak areas probably do not have the capability to return to the pre-european settlement range of conditions. The Grasslands administer permits for 180 permittees on 416 grazing units. At this time, cattle are the only kind of livestock authorized to graze the Grasslands. Summary of Environmental Consequences Under all alternatives, BTPDs may reduce available forage for livestock. Under alternative A, available forage would increase, as 4,400 acres of shinnery oak would be converted to grassland. This alternative would have the grasslands develop miles of fence and water pipeline, and numerous watering facilities that are not needed and would be expensive. Alternatives B and C would not require these developments. Relevant Laws, Regulations, and Policy that apply Bank-Head Jones Farm Tennant Act of 1937: 36 CFR 213 Administration of Lands Under Title III of the Bank-head Jones Farm Tennant Act by the Forest Service FSM Range Management Policies National Grasslands FSM and Grazing and Livestock Use Permit System, Objective and Policy FSM Grazing and Livestock Use Permit System Requirements for Permits with Term Status FSH Chapter Grazing Permit Administration Handbook FSH Chapter 90 Rangeland Management Decision-making
3 3 Environmental Assessment of Livestock Grazing and Associated Vegetation Management: Black Kettle National Grassland-Roger Mills County, Oklahoma. November Black Kettle National Grassland, Cibola National Forest, Cheyenne, Okla. Environmental Assessment for Selected Range Units in Dallam Co., Texas: Term Permit Modification and Range Unit Management Plans. November USDA Forest Service, Cibola National Forest Rita Blanca National Grassland, Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands Ranger District, Clayton, N.M. Environmental Assessment of Livestock Grazing on the Kiowa National Grassland in Union Co., N.M. August USDA Forest Service Cibola National Forest Kiowa National Grassland, Clayton, N.M. Environmental Assessment of Livestock Grazing in the Mills Area of the Kiowa National Grassland: Harding, Colfax, and Mora Counties, N.M. September USDA Forest Service Cibola National Forest Kiowa National Grassland, Clayton, N.M. Environmental Assessment for Selected Range Units in Dallam Co., Texas: Term Permit Modification and Range Unit Management Plans. January USDA Forest Service, Cibola National Forest Rita Blanca National Grassland, Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands Ranger District, Clayton, N.M. Environmental Assessment of Livestock Grazing and Management on the Rita Blanca National Grassland in Cimarron Co., Okla. September USDA Forest Service Cibola National Forest Rita Blanca National Grassland, Clayton, N.M. Methodology and Analysis Process Spatial analyses of rangelands are based on the area within the proclaimed boundary of the Black Kettle, Kiowa, McClellan Creek, and Rita Blanca National Grasslands. The time frame used is the past decade ( ) through the planning period. Existing Conditions and projected Environmental Consequences were evaluated using field reconnaissance, visual obstruction readings, Parker 3 Step transects, cover-frequency transects, production clippings, photo points, and composition inventories. Data collected has been compared with historical data and with the TEU inventory. Suitability and capability of National Forest System land was determined in the 1985 Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP). Suitability is determined based on compatibility with desired conditions and objectives in the plan area, including wildlife habitat needs. Most of these landscape scale conditions have not displayed an appreciable change since then. The plan components ( ie., objectives, guidelines, standards, suitability and monitoring elements) and management approaches for all alternatives and for other resource areas besides livestock use were evaluated against the desired condition for livestock use by interdisciplinary team members to determine if achieving the desired condition for livestock use was affected positively, negatively, or not at all. Revision Topics Addressed In This Analysis Livestock grazing will continue at the current level in all the alternatives contained in this analysis. The Ecological Sustainability report determined that no change in current livestock use management is needed to meet the desired conditions for the rangeland vegetation types. Adaptive management of livestock
4 4 would be applied to all the alternatives. Fluctuations in annual forage production will be accounted for by adjusting stocking levels or seasons of use or both. Summary of Alternatives The 1985 Land and Resource Management Plan provided for livestock grazing, range improvement construction and implementation of conservative management and utilization levels. Livestock grazing on the grasslands is managed according to decisions made by National Environmental Policy Act Environmental Assessments. The provisions in these decisions prescribe conservative utilization levels and adaptive management principles that allow for variable livestock numbers and seasonal flexibility. These are applied so that the desired vegetation condition may be maintained or moved toward. These NEPA decisions would be implemented in all the alternatives under consideration in the DEIS. Alternative A would provide for livestock grazing, range improvement construction, and implementation of conservative management and utilization levels. Livestock grazing on the grasslands is managed according to decisions made by NEPA analyses. The provisions in these decisions prescribe conservative utilization levels and adaptive management principles that allow for variable livestock numbers and seasonal flexibility. These are applied so that the desired vegetation condition may be maintained or approached. These NEPA decisions apply to this alternative. Alternative A would emphasize forage for sustained livestock yields and technology to improve range condition. Alternative A would increase forage on 4,400 acres as shinnery oak would be treated and converted to grassland. Alternative B would contribute to local economies by offering livestock grazing permits and demonstrating grassland agriculture and would contribute to preserving large areas of open space and preserving the rural and cultural heritage of the southern Great Plains. Livestock use would provide for conditions that support the sustainability of diverse, healthy herbaceous, and woody plant communities and animal populations while protecting wetlands, streams, habitat, and soils from undesirable impacts. The same NEPA decisions discussed under alternative A apply to this alternative as well. Alternative C would be the same as alternative B with regard to livestock grazing, but would be subject to FSM 2320 directives in the Canadian River PWA. This area is currently not under permit but the grazing units are considered open if the need should arise to allow livestock use to accomplish vegetation resource objectives consistent with the desired condition. Description of Affected Environment The Grasslands are coarsely grouped into seven vegetation types. The mixed grass prairie and piñonjuniper vegetation types are close to their historical range of variation (HRV) conditions, and continuation of current management is expected to move them further towards that condition. The cottonwood-willow and shinnery oak are within their historical range of variation, although shinnery oak has more area in the early/mid-open seral stage and less in the late/closed stage and require periodic introduction of planned fire. The shortgrass prairie and sand sagebrush are also within the historical range of variation conditions. Deep plowed shinnery oak areas, formerly cultivated old field sites in shortgrass prairie, and cottonwoodwillow riparian may not be able to return to the pre-european settlement range of conditions. The cottonwood-willow vegetation type may not be able to return fully to HRV due to the disruption of natural
5 5 hydrologic processes on and off of the Grasslands. Settlement and the Dust Bowl era also created conditions that facilitated mixed hardwood riparian establishment, a vegetation type not historically found on the Grasslands. Consequently there is not an appropriate reference condition for determining a departure from reference condition for mixed hardwood riparian. While returning to HRV conditions may not be fully achievable on some vegetation types, the continuation of adaptive management should move them toward HRV where possible. Since the restoration following the Dust Bowl era, watershed and vegetative conditions have improved significantly. The Grasslands administer permits for 180 permittees on 416 grazing units. At this time, cattle are the only authorized kind of livestock. Vegetative conditions are able to support 91,406 AUMs of livestock grazing as well as to provide for wildlife habitat and watershed protection on the Black Kettle, Kiowa, McClellan Creek, and Rita Blanca National Grasslands. Permitted AUMs fluctuate based upon climatic conditions. The drier vegetation types west of the 100 th meridian are more acutely influenced by drought. In addition, prairie dog populations negatively affect grazing capacity and vegetative condition, especially when coupled with less than normal precipitation. Environmental Consequences Common to All Alternatives. Where not specifically directed by the plan, livestock use would be conducted in accordance with law, regulation, policy, applicable NEPA decisions, and through the use of BMPs and adaptive management to maintain a sustainable grazing resource. Drought would reduce available forage and livestock industry income. BTPDs may reduce available forage. Forage would not be available to cattle near playa lakes during the migratory bird breeding season. Except for the long-term loss of forage base on the small areal extent of wind turbine pads and access roads, it is anticipated that disturbance to livestock would be temporary, as livestock would become accustomed to their presence. Economic efficiency was analyzed to estimate the present net value (PNV) for recreation, livestock use, minerals, and nonrecreation special uses by alternative. The PNV for alternative A is $152,409,146. The PNV for alternatives B and C is $151,130,674. The PNV between alternatives would be economically insignificant. It is possible that the development of wind energy in the grasslands could have a negative affect on forage production. This reduction would be in proportion to the number of wind turbines installed and the access roads installed to service them. It is anticipated that disturbance to livestock would be temporary, as livestock would become accustomed to their presence. Alternative A. Available forage would increase as 4,400 acres of shinnery oak would be converted to grassland. Livestock use would be facilitated by the construction of 55.6 miles of fence, 64 watering facilities, and 3 miles of water pipeline on the BKMC NG and by 365 miles of fence, 514 watering facilities, and 21 miles of water pipeline on the KRB NGs. Alternatives B and C. Forage quality would decrease in pastures containing playa lakes deferred from grazing between April 1 and August 31 when water is present and bird nesting is occurring.
6 6 It is possible that the increased emphasis on blacktail prairie dogs population viability could result in reduced forage production in the dog town areas. This reduction in forage production would affect livestock use in direct proportion to the size of the dog town. Under Alternative C, the potential designation of wilderness in the Mills Canyon/Canadian River would not be expected to change management with regard to livestock grazing. This area is a designated roadless area and is managed according to those requirements. Presently the units within the roadless area are not grazed but are maintained in an open but unstocked status and not under permit. This allows grazing to occur if needed to maintain the desired condition of the area. Cumulative Environmental Consequences The cumulative environmental consequences analysis area is the land immediately adjacent to the grasslands. Expansion of prairie dog colonies onto the grasslands resulting from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Landowner Incentive Program could reduce available livestock forage on the grasslands. Currently, interest in irrigated crop farming has resulted in grassland conversion to crops on nearby private land. The conversion of native grasslands to cropland will likely continue into the future, depending on a host of economic circumstances. This phenomena will likely make native, intact vegetation types on the grasslands even more important as habitats across the larger landscape. USDA NRCS has an Environmental Incentives Improvement Program available to, among others, ranchers who run livestock on the National Grasslands allotments as well as on their private holdings. Conservation practices can be cost-shared by USDA NRCS on both National Grasslands parcels as well as on the private landowner holdings, thus benefitting both. Unavoidable Adverse Impacts A land management plan provides a programmatic framework that guides site- specific actions but does not authorize, fund or carry out any project or activity. Because a land management plan does not authorize or mandate any ground-disturbing actions, none of the alternatives cause an irreversible or irretrievable commitment of resources. Adaptive Management All alternatives assume the use of adaptive management principles. Forest Service decisions are made as part of an on-going process. The land management plan identifies a monitoring program. Monitoring the results of actions will provide a flow of information that may indicate the need to change a course of action or the land management. Scientific findings and the needs of society may also indicate the need toadapt resource management to new information. Consistency with Laws, Regulation and Policy All alternatives are designed to guide the Kiowa, Rita Blanca, Black Kettle, and McClellan Creek National Grasslands in meeting federal law, regulation and policy. Other Planning Efforts
7 7 There are no potential conflicts between the proposed action and the objectives of the Federal, State, Local, or Tribal land use plans, policies and controls for the areas concern References Uresk and Paulson et al, 1988, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station Derner, J. D., Detling, J. K., and Antolin, M. F Are livestock weight gains affected by prairie dogs? Frontiers in Ecology and Environment 4: Prepared by: Rick Newmon, Rangeland Management Specialist, Cibola NF&NGs. B.S. Range Science
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