Proposed Action

For more information about the Proposed Action, see Chapter 2 of the EA, as well as Appendices B and C.

Potential Project Categories

The EA analyzes 5 potential project categories, comprising 15 different project types:

1. Aquatic organism passage projects

2. Instream, side-channel, and floodplain projects

a. Erosion control structures, headcut, and grade stabilization

b. Large wood (LW), boulder, and gravel placement (LW and boulder projects, engineered logjams, porous boulder weirs and vanes, gravel augmentation, and tree removal for LW projects)

c. Reduction/relocation of recreation impacts

d. Fencing, stream crossings, pasture improvements, and off-channel wildlife/livestock watering

e. Beaver habitat restoration

f. Streambank restoration

g. Legacy structure removal

h. Channel reconstruction/relocation and off- and side-channel habitat restoration

i. Setback or removal of berms, dikes, and levees

3. Riparian vegetation treatments

a. Riparian vegetation planting

b. Riparian vegetation treatment (prescribed fire)

c. Conifer and nonnative invasive plant removal when encroaching in riparian areas, meadows, and wetlands

4. Road and trail erosion control, relocation, and decommissioning

5. Groundwater-dependent ecosystems: restoration of seeps and springs

Expected Number of Projects by Project Category Across the Project Area

Flexible Tool Box Approach

The flexible toolbox approach is a strategy that allows predetermined treatments to be aligned before they are implemented with current conditions on the ground. A combination of landscape features will be used to identify areas for treatment and then a set of treatments tools and associated design features would be applied to treat those features. Specific treatments would vary based on the conditions on the ground, the type of vegetation expected to be present and could be further modified if threatened or endangered species habitat were present, for example. Using site data, these conditions would be assessed to ensure effects of specific treatments in a project area are as expressed in the Environmental Assessment. These estimates would include the spatial extent of a project, and any modifications needed based on specific factors as well as any monitoring requirements. If during field reviews or during implementation, effects differ from what was predicted, changes to design criteria can be made.

Project-Specific Design Criteria will be the basis for consistent implementation and effects analysis for the project categories and activities at the forest and site-specific scale. Design criteria for biological and cultural resources were developed that would apply to all project categories. Additional design criteria were developed specific to each project type. Design criteria are found in Appendix B of the EA.

Next Station: Provide Comments

For more information on the Northern NM Riparian, Aquatic, and Wetland Restoration Project EA or to be added or removed from the mailing list, please contact Mr. Joshua Hall (505-438-5430, joshua.hall@usda.gov).