APPENDI X D. PAS T ,ONGOI NG A

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Appendix D. Past, Ongoing, and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions Introduction This appendix lists past, ongoing, and reasonably foreseeable projects on National Forest or other lands. The table of actioForest Service Past Actions, Forest Service Ongoing Actions, Forest Service Reasonably Foreseeable Actions, and ReasonActions - Adjacent Lands under Other Ownerships. In the Chapter 3 Resource Sections of this FEIS, the analysis of cumulative effects referred to guidance provided in a MemCouncil on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Chairman Connaughton (dated June 24, 2005) on "Past Actions in Cumulative project NEPA analysis. This guidance addresses the extent to which Federal agencies are required to analyze environmentaIn general, the memo states that review of past actions is required if the review “informs agency decision making regarding 

Agencies are not required to list or analyze the effects of individual past actions “unless such information is necessary to deeffects of all past actions combined.” This appendix together with the Chapter 3 cumulative effects sections meet this guida

FS Past Actions Relevant past actions are taken into consideration in the existing condition (affected environment) sections of the affected r3—fish, soil and water, recreation, and wildlife. Examples are: past vegetation management projects such as timber sales, rrestoration, mining reclamation, wildlife habitat enhancement, etc. Project Date Acres/Miles Manageme 

nt Area 

Description Consi

Effect

(MA) Fish 

Cost Share Agreement with Valley County, IDPR, BNF and PNF for snowmobile trail grooming 

Ongoin g 

240 miles Forest-wide Grooming of designated snowmobile trails occurs 

throughout the Boise and Payette NF under a costshare agreement 

Past Road Construction and Management 

1 through 13 

Best assessed using the current Forest GIS data in the “travel_route” coverage in the Payette NF GIS data library and the associated INFRA database. These contain the most up-to-date information on both roads and trails. Also includes information on unauthorized roads the Forest has inventoried. 

X 

Payette National Forest Travel Plan FEIS

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APPENDI X D. PAS T ,ONGOI NG & REASONABLY 

FORESEE ABLE ACTI ONS Project Date Acres/Miles Manageme 

nt Area 

Description Consi

Effect

(MA) Fish 

Past Trail Construction and Management 

1 through 13 

Same as Past Road Construction and Management, above 

X 

Price Valley Snowmobile Parking Lot 

2005 1/2 acre 3 A small level parking area cleared and surfaced in 

gravel, and toilet and kiosk, west of Price Valley Guard Station along NFS Road 50102. Provides winter sports parking to accommodate increased use and provide relief to overcrowded parking areas. 

X 

Willow Basket #141 Trail 2003 1⁄2 mile 5 Relocated 1⁄2 mile of Willow Basket #141 Trail to X Relocation eliminate environmental and safety concerns. Brundage Mountain Land Exchange 

2006 388 acres 

Federal; 350 acres private 

6 This alternative is an exchange of Federal lands 

totaling approximately 388.35 acres and non-Federal lands totaling approximately 349.49 acres. Following the exchange the PNF will manage these nonFederal lands in accordance with the Forest Plan. 

X 

FS Ongoing Actions Project Date Acres/Miles MA Description Consid

Effects Fish 

Bear Tornado Recovery Project 6 

2006­2007 

1. 3 miles 2 Salvage recovery effort of the Bear Tornado 

Blowdown area to recover timber resources and reduce risk of wildfire and bark beetles associated with tornado damaged forests. There is 1.3 miles of road decommissioning associated with the project (FR 51807). 

X 

Brownlee/Seid Creek Improvement Thin 

2005 3 Thin 425 acres of understory timber to improve 

forested stand health and reduce risk of wildfires. Manage roads to reduce stream sediment. 

X 

Brundage Mountain Resort and Snow Cat Skiing 

Ongoing 3,260 acres; 

17,685 acres 

5, 6, 7 Brundage Mountain operates on 3,260 acres of 

National Forest System lands and is eight miles northwest of McCall. About half the acres are lift served. It is primarily a winter recreation resort, offering groomed runs and snow cat skiing, although mountain biking is popular at Brundage in the 

X 

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Project Date Acres/Miles MA Description Consid

Effects Fish 

summer. Guided snow cat skiing, under a Special Use Permit encompassing 17,685 acres, occurs north of the developed ski area on Sargeant’s Mountain, Granite Mountain, and Slab Butte. Brundage Mountain is working under a newly approved development plan which improves all aspects of the resort, including additional ski runs, additional ski lifts, and improving infrastructure. Improvements under this plan began in 2003. Summer operations include mountain biking, concerts, weddings, and other special events, plus general maintenance of facilities and infrastructure. 

Burgdorf Road Management and Abandoned Mine Reclamation 

2005 see narrative 10, 11 Project responds to recommendations from roads 

analysis by decommissioning unclassified roads, designating ATV routes, and reclaiming abandoned mine sites. Road management consists of the following: 21.4 miles of unauthorized road and 4.8 miles of NFS road decommissioned; 0.3 miles of unauthorized road to NFS road; 10.9 miles of unauthorized road and 2.6 miles of NFS road to ATV trail. 

X 

Cost Share Road Management 

Ongoing Forest-wide The Forest has several roads under cost share road 

management with other owners. Under these agreements use and maintenance of the road may be shared by both of the parties. Future management of these roads, including access management, requires negotiation with all entities involved in the cost share agreement. 

X 

Firewood Gathering – Forest-wide 

Ongoing Forest-wide Additional access for firewood gathering, above that 

allowed under the Travel Plan, would be permitted by each Ranger District as areas are identified where firewood harvest would meet Forest objectives. 

X 

FRTA Easements (Ongoing) – Forest-wide 

Ongoing Forest-wide The Forest Service is in the process of assessing the 

merits of the conveyance of several FRTA easements for roads to local counties. 

X 

Land Exchanges Ongoing Forest-wide X Payette National Forest Travel Plan FEIS

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APPENDI X D. PAS T ,ONGOI NG & REASONABLY 

FORESEE ABLE ACTI ONS Project Date Acres/Miles MA Description Consid

Effects Fish 

Lick Creek Vegetation Management Project 

2005 2, 3 Project will reduce fuels, manage forest vegetation, 

enhance Northern Idaho ground squirrel habitat, manage roads. 

X 

Little Ski Hill Operation 6 and 

private land 

The Little Ski Hill offers both downhill and cross country skiing on a parcel of National Forest land on the east side of Highway 55. Typically they groom 10 miles of cross country ski trails each season on both private and National Forest land. Due to change in land ownership of the private ground, the Little Hill is now grooming Nordic trails on the National Forest in Bear Basin under their Special Use Permit. 

X 

Lucky Ben Access Project 

2005 11 Install a bridge to replace an existing ford over 

Steamboat Creek; construct a new access road to private property; obliterate the existing access road. 

X 

Meadows Slope Wildland Fire Protection Project 

Through 2010 

10.6 miles decommission 

5, 6, 7 Create fuelbreak of 6500 acres, while managing 

roads using thinning, prescribed fire, and timber harvest to reduce risk of uncharacteristic, undesirable fire. Also planting and natural regeneration, administratively closing, decommissioning, or improving roads. 

X 

Mistletoe and Precommercial thinning Ongoing Forest-wide Noxious weed control Ongoing Forest-wide X Range, Minerals, and Special Uses 

Ongoing Forest-wide The Forest makes multiple decisions on an annual 

basis concerning roads and trails needed by range permittees, mining entities, and other permitted users for access to the Forest. These projects and permits typically involve small areas, and the access is generally only granted to the requesting permittee, not the general public. 

X 

Road Maintenance (including Level 1 System Roads 

Ongoing Forest-wide The Forest receives an allocation annually to carry 

out maintenance on NFS roads; includes intermittent maintenance of Level 1 (closed system) roads 

X 

Tamarack Nordic Ski Trail 

Ongoing MA 3 Outfitter and guide special use permit authorizes 

grooming for Nordic skiing on the summit ridge of West Mountain. No ground disturbance or cutting of trees. 

D - 4 Payette National 
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Project Date Acres/Miles MA Description Consid

Effects Fish 

Trails, Recreation, and Administrative Site Operation and Maintenance 

Ongoing Forest-wide X 

Upper Mud Fuels Reduction 

2006 3 Move conifer stands from Condition Classes 2 and 3 

towards Condition Classes 1 and 2 by commercial thinning, and reduce the risk of uncharacteristic or undesirable wildfire. Assess the existing road system and carry out watershed improvement projects. 0.8 miles of unauthorized decommissioned; 0.5 miles unauthorized road to NFS road. 

X 

Upper Weiser Fire Regime/Condition Class Project 

2005 3 Treat fuels on 750 acres of forest to reduce fuel 

loading and reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire; road closures and 9.6 miles of unauthorized road decommissioning. X 

Wildland Fire Suppression Activities 

Ongoing Forest-wide Activities may include ground disturbance, 

vegetation removal, water dipping, temporary campsites, and other activities as needed to control wildland fire. 

X 

FS Reasonably Foreseeable Actions Project Date Acres/Miles MA Description Conside

Effects Fish 

Crooked River Fuels Management Project 

2007 2 Conduct vegetation and fuels management 

activities, reduce fire risk to private lands, promote and restore large-tree dominated forest structure for white-headed woodpeckers and flammulated owls, restore northern Idaho ground squirrel habitat, manage roads. 

X 

East Fork Lost Creek NIDGS Habitat Improvement Project 

2008 3.1 miles 3 Improve northern Idaho ground squirrel habitat, 

including commercial thinning 603 acres, precommercial thinning 155 acres, brush disposal and prescribed burning 758 acres, obliterating 3.1 X 

Payette National Forest Travel Plan FEIS

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APPENDI X D. PAS T ,ONGOI NG & REASONABLY 

FORESEE ABLE ACTI ONS Project Date Acres/Miles MA Description Conside

Effects Fish 

miles and relocation of 0.6 miles of road. 

Goose Lake Road Day Lighting and Visibility Improvement – MA 6 (2007) 

2007 6 Remove some trees within a 75 foot strip on either 

side of the Goose Lake Road between Highway 55 and Brundage Mountain Ski Area to improve sun reaching the road in winter and improve visibility on some corners. 

X 

Lower East Fork Fuels Reduction Project 

2008 3 Manage forest vegetation to reduce hazardous 

fuel risk, and risk to ecosystem components. Proposal in development. 

X 

McClaran Access Road – Special Use 

2007 6 Special use authorization for continued use and 

maintenance of existing access road to private property. 

X 

Summit Gulch Vegetation Management 

2007 1,200 acres 3 Manage vegetation to promote the development of 

suitable habitat for the NIDGS, move forest vegetation conditions toward desired conditions in the Forest Plan, reduce wildlife and watershed related road impacts 

X 

Upper Elevation Groomed Route Improvement 

2007 6 Remove + 51 trees along the groomed 

snowmobile trail immediately north of the Upper Elevation Parking Lot to improve snowfall reaching the trail and improve groomer operation. 

X 

Warm Springs Fuels Reduction 

2007 2,375 acres 3 Move areas from condition classes 2 and 3 

towards condition class 1. Treat 1,500 acres prescribed burning and 750 acres commercial thin, 105 acres non-commercial thin. Obliterate roads. X 

Yellow Pine and Eiguren Hazardous Fuels Reduction 

2007 4.9 miles 

decommission 

12, 13 Create and maintain fuel break of reduced wildfire 

risk and fire severity/intensity on NFS lands around Yellow Pine, Eiguren Ranch, and private property using commercial timber harvest, understory treatment, and prescribed burning. Decommission 4.9 miles of unauthorized road. 

X 

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Reasonably Foreseeable Action - Adjacent Lands under Other Ownerships Project Date Acres/MIles MA Description Conside

Effects Fish 

Boise National Forest Travel Planning 

2007 2 Boise National Forest is initiating the second phase 

of Travel Management Planning for the Forest. 

X 

Growth of Valley County Ongoing Population growth in Valley County is occurring 

bringing in a growth in recreational users and demand 

X 

State Of Idaho/Tamarack 

2007 3, 11, 12, 13 Project would trade lands out of MA 3 to acquire 

lands in MAs 11, 12, and 13 

X 

Rapid River Trailhead Facility 

2006 4 Nez Perce National Forest recreation project 

upstream of the Rapid River fish hatchery to construct parking area of about 3⁄4 acre, and reconstruct 600 feet of road, both gravel surfaced. Reconstructed road and half of the parking lot would lie in an RCA. 

X 

Tamarack Activities 2007+ 5,000 3 Tamarack Resort has numerous project proposals 

in including: restriction of over-snow motorized use on 5,000 acres of land adjacent to the PNF; addition of several trails, groomed over-snow routes, land purchases, and a backcountry skiing operation. 

X 

Idaho State Lands Ongoing Timber sales and road building on lands adjoining 

the PNF. 

X 

Former Boise Cascade land development 

Ongoing Potential development including roads, houses, 

and recreation facilities 

X 

* For details regarding specific actions that have affected baseline conditions for habitat of fishes listed under the ESA see in the project record for seven river basins, section 7 watersheds. Those assessments describe effects of each action by sub-Payette National Forest Travel Plan FEIS

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APPENDI X D. PAS T ,ONGOI NG & REASONABLY 

FORESEE ABLE ACTI ONS D - 8 Payette National