Final Environmental Impact Statement Kings River Experimental Watershed Project

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CHAPTER 4. CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION

4.1 Consultation and Coordination

4.1.1 Introduction

This chapter describes the FS’s public involvement activities and its consultation and coordination with 

State and Federal agencies and private organizations during the planning and preparation of the DEIS.

The FEIS was prepared by an interdisciplinary team of specialists from the SNF and the PSW. The 

document was prepared in consultation and coordination with various federal, State, and local agencies, 

organizations, and individuals. Agency consultation and public participation have been accomplished 

through a variety of formal and informal methods, including scoping meetings, responses to e-mails, 

meetings with individual public agencies and interest groups. This section summarizes these activities.

4.1.2 Public Involvement 

The FS published a Notice of Intent to prepare a DEIS in the Federal Register on October 9, 2009. The 

KREW DEIS has been developed pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act 

of 1969 (Public Law 91-190). The intent of this planning process is to prepare a comprehensive review 

of the environmental effects of forest health and fire and fuels treatments and research in the proposed 

management units on the SNF. Through scoping and the public comment review process on the DEIS, 

the planning process is being conducted in consultation with affected federal agencies, State and local 

governments, tribal groups, and interested organizations and individuals. 

The Notice of Availability of the DEIS was published in the Federal Register on December 23, 2010 

allowing a 45 day public comment period. Additionally letters were sent to interested and affected 

parties informing them of the DEIS availability and offering copies in various formats. The DEIS was also 

posted on the FS website. Twenty seven comment letters were received. Please see Section1.7 for 

additional information.

4.1.2.1 Public Meetings

The FS hosted two public scoping meetings to discuss the proposed activities in the KREW Project. The 

meetings were both held on October 14, 2009; one in the SNF Supervisor’s Office and one at the HSRD 

Office. The proposed project activities were discussed in two coupled components: Component 1, 

management treatments and Component 2, research to examine ecosystem response to those 

treatments. 

Several comments were received at the public meetings and during the scoping period. Comments were 

determined to be significant or non-significant issues for the proposed project. Significant issues 

included the affect of large tree removal on the ecological viability of the forest and to viability and 

habitat of a number of wildlife species (Issue Analysis 2009). All comments were considered during the 

preparation of this FEIS.
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4.1.3 Consultation and Coordination

4.1.3.1 Cooperating Agencies

FS biologists coordinated with the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 

California red-legged frog has had both formal and informal consultation provided by the USFWS since it 

was listed as federally threatened in 1996 (61 FR 25813). In 2000, two site surveys for California redlegged frog were sent to USFWS for review and comment. On September 12, 2002 (67 FR 57830; USDI 

USFWS 2002) the final recovery plan for the California red-legged frog was made available. The Sierra 

National Forest is a part of the recovery unit “Sierra Nevada Foothill and Central Valley”. However, the 

Sierra National Forest was not listed as critical habitat for the species, nor were any recovery elements 

established for the species on the Sierra National Forest. In 2006 the Sierra National Forest requested 

review (technical assistance) by the USFWS on the potential effects of the KRP on the fisher (Martes 

pennanti) and Yosemite toad. USFWS made recommendations to the FS to avoid or minimize adverse 

effects to these species. For specific information on cooperation with USFWS refer to the Biological 

Assessment/Biological Evaluation for wildlife and aquatics. Monitoring of Yosemite toad populations 

and habitat, and radio-telemetry tracking of adults are part of the PSW research and R5 monitoring at 

the Bull Unit. 

4.1.3.2 Government Agencies

Project information was communicated to the following Federal, State, and local government entities:

California Department of Fish and Game

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

California Department of Water Resources

Central Valley Regional Water Authority

Coarsegold Resource Conservation District

Congressman Devin Nunes

Congressman Jim Costa

County of Fresno

County of Madera

Fresno County Board of Supervisors

Fresno County Water Advisory Committee

Friant Water Authority

Natural Resource Conservation Services

North Fork Fire Department

Pacific Southwest Research Station

San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District

Senator Barbara Boxer

Senator Dianne Feinstein

Shaver Lake Fire Department

Supervisor Debbie Poochigian

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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4.1.3.3 Tribes

A Tribal Forum was held on November 16, 2010 at the High Sierra Ranger District Office. During this 

meeting Dr. Carolyn Hunsaker made a presentation on the KREW Project. Scoping information was also 

communicated to the following tribes and tribal interests:

American Indian Council of Mariposa County

Big Sandy Rancheria

Chaushilha Yokuts

Cold Springs Rancheria

Dumna Tribe

Mono Nation

North Fork Mono Rancheria

North Fork Mono Tribe

Picayune Rancheria

Sierra Mono Museum

Sierra Nevada Native American

4.1.3.4 Research Collaborators

Many universities and organizations are collaborating with or have invested in the Kings River 

Experimental Watersheds study over the years including: 

• The University of California at Davis, Berkeley, Merced, Irvine, and Santa Barbara

• The University of Nevada, Reno

• The University of Wyoming

• Colorado State University

• U.S. Geological Survey, Sacramento Office

• California State Water Resources Control Board, Proposition 50 (the Water Security, Clean 

Drinking Water, Coastal and Beach Protection Act of 2002)

• Federal Joint Fire Sciences Program (Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management)

• Federal National Fire Plan

National Science Foundation, Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory (EAR-0725097)

4.1.3.5 Organizations and Members of the Public

Project information was communicated to interested parties representing the following organizations:

Alternatives to Toxics

American Forest Resource Council

California Native Plant Society

California State University, Fresno

California Water Institute

Chowchilla Redtop

Dogwood Homeowners Association

Earth Justice

Eastern Madera County Fire Safe Council

Fresno Flyfishers for Conservation

Highway 168 Fire Safe Council
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Huntington Lake Association

Intermountain Nursery

John Muir Project

Lassen Forest Preservation Group

Musick Creek Homeowners Association

Oakhurst River Parkway

Pacific Gas and Electric

Pacific Rivers Council

Pineridge Property Owners Association

Revive the San Joaquin 

River Tree Volunteers

San Joaquin Valley Resource Conservation & Development Council

Santa Fe Forest Watch

Sequoia Riverlands Trust

Shaver Lake Chamber of Commerce

Shaver Lake Citizens Advisory Council

Shaver Lake Civic League

Shaver Lake Community

Shaver Lakes Heights Property Association

Sierra and Foothill Citizens Alliance

Sierra Club

Sierra Hydrographics

Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Project

Sierra Nevada Alliance

Sierra Nevada Conservancy

Sierra Nevada FPC

Society of American Foresters

Southern California Edison

Terra Bella Mill

The Nature Conservancy

Van Vleet Properties

4.1.4 List of Preparers

Frank Aebly, Hydrologist, Sierra National Forest

Carolyn Ballard, Fuels Specialist, High Sierra Ranger District, Sierra National Forest

Darcy Brown, Special Uses Assistant, High Sierra Ranger District, Sierra National Forest

Alan Gallegos, Geologist, Stanislaus, Sierra and Sequoia National Forests

Carolyn Hunsaker, Ecologist, Sierra Nevada Research Center, Pacific Southwest Research Station

Steve Marsh, Archaeologist, High Sierra Ranger District, Sierra National Forest

Mike Price, Timber Management Officer, Sierra National Forest

Ramiro Rojas, Silviculturist, High Sierra Ranger District, Sierra National Forest
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Greg Schroer, Wildlife Biologist, Sierra National Forest

Phil Strand, Fisheries Biologist; Aquatics-Riparian Analysis, Sierra National Forest

Judi Tapia, Environmental Coordinator, Sierra National Forest 

Jamie Tuitele-Lewis, Assistant Forest Botanist, Sierra National Forest