DECISION RECORD Entiat River Riparian Enhancement

OR-134-2013-CX-0003 Bureau of Land Management

Wenatchee Field Office 915 N. Walla Walla Ave Wenatchee, WA 98801

Decision and Rationale

It is my decision to implement the Entiat River Riparian Enhancement project as described in the attached Categorical Exclusion (OR-134-2013-CX-0003) and shown on attached map. As described in the attached Categorical Exclusion Documentation, it is not anticipated that the project actions will cause significant effects.

The action area was disturbed by the 1994 Tyee fire. Reforestation within the burned action area will restore natural riparian area functions within the action area, indirectly benefitting fish, wildlife, and recreation.

Linda Coates-Markle

Field Manager

Administrative Review or Appeal Opportunities

Any party that is adversely affected and determined to be a party to the case, may appeal the implementation of the proposed action to the Interior Board of Land Appeals, Office of the Secretary, in accordance with the regulations contained in 43 CFR Part 4. A notice of appeal must be filed in this office (at the address in the letterhead above) within 30 days of receipt of this decision. The appellant has the burden of showing that the decision is ~n error.

An appellant may also file a petition for a stay (suspension) of this decision during the time that the appeal is being reviewed by the Board pursuant to Part 4, Subpart B, 43 CFR Part 4.21. The petition for a stay must accompany the notice of appeal. A petition for a stay is required to show sufficient justification based on the standards listed below. Copies of the notice of appeal and petition for a stay must be submitted to each party named in this decision, to the Interior Board of Land Appeals, and the Office of the Solicitor (see 43 CFR 4.413) (see addresses below) at the same time the original documents are filed with this office. The appellant has the burden ofproof ofdemonstrating that a stay should be granted.

Office of the Regional Solicitor, Pacific Northwest Region U.S. Department of the Interior · 805 SW Broadway, Suite 600 Portland, Oregon 97205

Interior Board of Land Appeals Office of Hearings and Appeals 801 N. Quincy Street, Suite 300 Arlington, VA 22203.

Except as otherwise provided by law or other pertinent regulation, a petition for a stay of decision pending appeal shall show sufficient justification based on the following standards: (a) The relative hann to the parties if the stay is granted or denied, (b) The likelihood of the appellant's success on the merits, (c) The likelihood of immediate and irreparable hann if the stay is not granted, and (d) Whether the public interest favors granting the stay.

Attachments: Categorical Exclusion Documentation Project Area Map

Categorical Exclusion Documentation Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management, Spokane District 1103 North Fancher Road

Spokane Valley, WA 99212

A. Background

BLM Office: Wenatchee Field Office

Lease/Serial/Case File No.: NA

NEPA Log Number: OR-134-2013-CX-0003

Proposed Action Title: Cascadia Conservation District Entiat River Riparian Enhancement

Location ofProposed Action: T 26 N, R 19 E, Section 1

Description ofProposed Action: The Proposed Action (Cascadia Conservation District Entiat River Riparian Enhancement) includes providing funding for plantings on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and private lands, and authorization ofplanting on BLM-administered lands.

The Action Area includes 500ft. ofBLM-administered riparian corridor abutting the Entiat River (see attached map). Riparian enhancement actions performed by Cascadia Conservation District (CCD) would entail reforestation ofa burned riparian area (part ofthe Tyee Fire, 1994). Specific activities would include the following:

• Native riparian shrub seedling plantings would be installed along both sides of this 500 ft. riparian corridor.

• Plantings would be installed above the bed and banks ofthe Entiat River. No in-water work or bank work would occur. Plantings would be done using hand tools, with minimal disturbance ofthe riparian corridor. Planting densities would be 1 ft. to 3 ft. on center. Plantings would receive tubing (browse protection) or other protection as necessary to ensure success.

• Small clearing(< 2000 sq. ft. over entire project) ofcompeting weedy species by hand may be required to install native riparian tubelings. Removed weedy brush would be burned in piles ( 4 ft. by 4 ft.) on private land following regulations by Chelan County FPD and other fire and burn stipulations.

CCD will be performing plantings as part ofa larger restoration effort in the Entiat Watershed, including private lands outside ofBLM-administered lands (see attached map). BLM funding would be used firstly on support for treatment on BLM-administered, and secondarily for treatment on private lands. Riparian enhancement actions performed on private lands would be similar to those described above for BLM-administered lands.

B. Land Use Plan Conformance Land Use Plan Name: Spokane Resource Management Plan Date Approved/ Amended: Approved 1987 IAmended 1992

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00ption 1 (conforms with LUP): The proposed action is in conformance with the applicable LUP because it is specifically provided for in the following LUP decision(s):

OR

C8](0ption 2: not explicitly provided for in the LUP) The proposed action is in conformance with the applicable LUP, even though it is not specifically provided for, because it is clearly consistent with the following LUP decision(s) (objectives, terms, and conditions):

The Spokane District Resource Management Plan (RMP) of 1987. BLM-administed lands in the Action Area (Entiat Watershed) were not specifically addressed as part of a Management Area. General Management Objectives for the entire Plan Area include to "Protect or enhance water quality with particular attention to those watersheds with major downstream water uses including anadromous and other sport fisheries" (RMP ROD 1987, pg. 12). Additionally, management actions within riparian habitat areas are to include measures to preserve, protect, and restore natural functions, as defined by Executive Orders 11988 and 11990 (RMP ROD 1987, pg. 19).

C. Compliance with NEPA: The proposed action is categorically excluded from further documentation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEP A) in accordance with

BLM CX 516 DM 11.9.C(3) Seeding or reforestation of timber sales or burn areas where no chaining is done, no pesticides are used, and there is no conversion of timber type or conversion ofnon-forest to forest land. Specific reforestation activities covered include: seeding and seedling plantings, shading, tubing (browse protection), paper mulching, bud caps, ravel protection, application ofnon-toxic big game repellant, spot scalping, rodent trapping, fertilization of seed trees, fence construction around out-planting sites, and collection ofpollen, scions, and cones.

The Action Area includes areas which burned in the Tyee Fire (1994).

This categorical exclusion is appropriate in this situation because there are no extraordinary circumstances potentially having effects that may significantly affect the environment. The proposed action has been reviewed, and none of the extraordinary circumstances described in 43 CFR 46.215 apply, as shown in the following table:

CX EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES DOCUMENTATION

The proposed categorical exclusion action will: YES NO

(a) Have significant impacts on public health or safety. D C8l

The BLM identified no impacts to public health or safety associated with funding or implementation of this Proposed Action. (b) Have significant impacts on such natural resources and unique geographic characteristics as historic or cultural resources; park, recreation or refuge lands; wilderness areas; wild or scenic rivers; national natural landmarks;

D C8l

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sole or principal drinking water aquifers; prime farmlands; wetlands (Executive Order 11990); floodplains (Executive Order 11988); national monuments; migratory birds; and other ecologically significant or critical areas.

The Action Area has been surveyed for cultural resources. The proposed action will have no proximity to and no impact on historic, cultural, recreation, wilderness, wild and scenic, farmland, wetland, or national landmark resources. The proposed categorical exclusion will enhance an existing floodplain, making it more suitable for migratory birds. (c) Have highly controversial environmental effects or involve unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources [NEP A Section 102(2)(E)].

D ~

The proposed action will not change use of any resource. (d) Have highly uncertain and potentially significant environmental effects or involve unique or unknown environmental risks.

D ~

The proposed action will not involve unique or unknown environmental risks. (e) Establish a precedent for future action or represent a decision in principle about future actions with potentially significant environmental effects.

D ~

The proposed action does not establish precendents for management in this or other areas. (f) Have a direct relationship to other actions with individually insignificant but cumulatively significant environmental effects.

D ~

The proposed action is not related to any other proposed action in the LUP area. (g) Have significant impacts on properties listed, or eligible for listing, on the National Register of Historic Places as determined by either the bureau.

D ~

The proposed action would not impact and is not within any proximity of any properties on the National Register ofHistoric Places. (h) Have significant impacts on species listed, or proposed to be listed, on the List of Endangered or Threatened Species, or have significant impacts on designated Critical Habitat for these species.

D ~

The proposed action would not have a significant negative effect on any species listed or proposed under the Endangered Species Act. Several listed fish species use the Entiat River. The proposed action would have a non-signficant positive effect on these species by enhancing upland riparian areas adjacent to in-water habitat. (i) Violate a Federal law, or a State, local, or tribal law or requirement imposed for the protection of the environment.

D ~

The proposed action would not violate any law. (j) Have a disproportionately high and adverse effect on low income or minority populations (Executive Order 12898).

D ~

The proposed action would not impact any low income or minority populations. (k) Limit access to and ceremonial use of Indian sacred sites on Federal D ~

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lands by Indian religious practitioners or significantly adversely affect the physical integrity of such sacred sites (Executive Order 13007).

The proposed action would not affect access to any sites. (I) Contribute to the introduction, continued existence, or spread ofnoxious weeds or non-native invasive species known to occur in the area or actions that may promote the introduction, growth, or expansion of the range of such species (Federal Noxious Weed Control Act and Executive Order 13112).

D ~

The proposed action would limit the spread ofnoxious weeds by planting highly competitive native species in an area affected by fire and currently supporting some open areas susceptible to weed invasion. The proposed categorical exclusion would not contribute to the introduction or SQread ofnoxious weeds or otherwise violate Executive Order 13112.

F: Signature

d~(Authorizing Official

CntttSignature) ­~ Cf-.1 · I '3

(Date)

Name: Linda Coates-Markle Title: Field Manager

G. Contact Person For additional information concerning this CX review, contact Chris Sheridan, Restoration Program Coordinator at 509-665-2118.

Note: A separate decision document must be prepared for the action covered by the CX.

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Entiat River Streamside Riparian Restoration: Cascadia Conservation District and BLM __..__

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Legend

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Section

Figure 1. Project Area. Upper figure depicts general area of work including potential ceo work sites in

Entiat Watershed (red outline) and BLM-administered lands (red pushpin). Lower figure shows greater detail for BLM-administered lands. Cascadia will provide a minimum of 500 ft. of riparian enhancement, primarily in the depicted BLM-administered lands (lower figure) but also potentially in the Entiat Watershed in private lands (upper figure) in adjacent watersheds. Cascadia work outside of areas depicted in this figure will be communicated to

BLM's Contracting Officer's Representative.