| COMPARISON OF IMPACTS |
| Alternative 1 |
Alternative 2 |
Alternative 3 |
Alternative 4 |
| Grazing Management |
| Reduction of 16,267 AUMs in first 5 years, carrying
through implementation phase until recovery |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Reduction of 35,901 AUMs in first 5 years, until recovery |
| Changes to grazing systems, some exclusions, range
improvements (see Table 4.3.1) |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1, except increased number and magnitude
of changes (see Table 4.3.1(b)) |
| Cost to BLM to implement projects = $2.2 million |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Cost to BLM to implement projects = $2.9 million |
| Current BLM Personnel |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Need 33 FTE and $350,000 operating expenses above
current funding levels for 5 years |
| Upland Soils |
Improved watershed health over the long term with:
Reduced surface crusting; reduced erosion; increased biological activity;
increased permeability; increased root mass; increased fertility; increased
soil cover; increased soil moisture |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
| Weed infestations of Medusahead, etc. will continue |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
| Upland Vegetation -- Annual Grasslands |
| Perennial grasses increase |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
| Episodic recruitment of oaks and shrubs |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
| Upland Vegetation -- Sagebrush Steppe |
| Increased perennial grasses 1 |
Same as Alt 1 2 |
Slower than Alt 1 3 |
Faster than Alt 1 4 |
| Increase in variety of seral stages |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Increase in soil cover |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Better distribution of litter and incorporation of
litter into soil |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Better root distribution in the soil profile |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Increased species diversity |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Increased photosynthetic period |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Increased vegetative structure |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Increased frequency of wild fire |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Decreased rate of spread of juniper |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Increased diversity of age classes in aspen |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| If it is a DPC goal, then shrubs maintained with increased
vigor |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| If it is a DPC goal, then shrubs decreased and more
perennial grasses and forbs |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Riparian Overview |
| Lentic wetlands increase from 27% to 83% in Proper
Functioning Condition |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1, but faster |
| Lotic riparian increase from 28% to 62% in Proper
Functioning Condition |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1, but faster |
| Riparian -- Vegetation |
| Increased shrub and tree layers, with improved age
class distribution 5 |
Same as Alt 1 2 |
Slower than Alt 1 3 |
Faster than Alt 1 4 |
| Increased cover and vigor of herbaceous perennials |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Increased streambank cover |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Movement toward later seral stages |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Increased diversity of plants and animals |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Increased width of riparian zone |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Decrease of non-riparian species in the riparian zone
as water tables rise |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Riparian -- Hydrologic Function and Water Quality |
| Improved hydrologic function and water quality 6 |
Same as Alt 1 2 |
Slower than Alt 1 3 |
Faster than Alt 1 4 |
| Stream channels narrow and deepen |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Increased ground water recharge |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Increased flows in perennial streams, and longer seasonal
flows in ephemeral streams |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Improved water temperatures |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Improved levels of oxygen |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Reduced nutrients, sediment and pathogens in water |
Same as Alt 1 |
Slower than Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Wildlife Habitat |
| Wildlife habitats will generally be improved or maintained |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Habitats will develop more diversity |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Increased ground cover in annual grasslands will be
good for some species, bad for others |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
| Improved habitat in oak and shrub areas, tempered
by fire occurrence |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
| Increased fires in annual grasslands may negatively
affect shrubs and small tree recruitment |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
| Sagebrush steppe habitats will change with increased
species diversity and vegetative structure |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Increased fire occurrence with increased perennial
grasses will result in decrease in pinyon-juniper community. Negative impacts
for some birds, but not enough to affect their populations |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Increased fire will result in mosaic of habitat types
spread across watershed. More edge will benefit most species |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Improved riparian habitats for waterfowl, shorebirds,
migratory birds |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Improved aquatic habitats as more riparian areas reach
Proper Functioning Condition |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Upland game habitats slowly improve (riparian component
improves faster) |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Slowly improved deer habitat in perennial and annual
ranges |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Improved elk habitat |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Improved pronghorn habitat due to increased diversity
of plant communities |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Special Status Species |
| Positive responses by special status plant species
to changes in grazing management |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1, but slightly faster response |
| Improved habitat for special status animal species |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Wild Horses and Burros |
| Potential reductions in herd size as managers determine
that wild horse and burro populations are causing an inability to meet rangeland
health standards |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
| Recreation |
| General positive effects due to increased ecological
function |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Potential restrictions on some recreation activities
as managers determine that some recreation activities are causing an inability
to meet rangeland health standards |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Wilderness |
| Improved naturalness due to improved ecological function
(faster occurrence in riparian areas) |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Negative impacts due to increased human manipulation
such as new fences, new water developments, more motor vehicle use, etc. |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Cultural Resources |
| Little effect upon cultural properties |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
| Potential for increased availability of traditionally
used plant species for subsistence, medicinal, and craft purposes |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Faster than Alt 1 |
| Some negative impacts to ranchers' ability to maintain
traditional lifestyles |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Greater potential for negative impacts |
| Economics |
| Cost to permittees in first 5 years = $.8 million,
and loss of 8 jobs |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Cost to permittees in first 5 years = $1.8 million,
and loss of 17 jobs |
| Long term costs from AUM reductions, with incremental
implementation and gradual improvement of range condition |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Faster improvement of range condition, potentially
lower long term costs, quicker AUM reinstatement potential |
| Loss of $21,960 in grazing fee revenue each of the
first 5 years, with some long term costs |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Loss of $48,488 in grazing fee revenue each of the
first 5 years, with some long term costs |
| Loss of $3,162 to the counties each of the first 5
years |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Loss of $6,982 to counties each of the first 5 years |
| Lower possessory interest taxes paid by permittees
in CA each year (-$3,567) |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Lower possessory interest taxes paid by permittees
in CA each year (-$8,344) |
| Loss of real estate value due to AUM reductions =
$ 30/AUM |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
| Increased expense of herding to allotments that require
herding (37) = $3000/allot./yr |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Increased expense of herding to allotments that require
herding (47) = $4200/allot./yr |
| BLM budget = current funding levels |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
BLM budget = $2.4 million/yr above current funding
levels for 5 years |
| Economics -- County Impacts |
Lassen Co first 5 years (each year) =
Reduce 5,124 AUMs (6.2%),
$ 265,216,
2.5 jobs |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Lassen Co first 5 years (each year) =
Reduce 11,315 AUMs (13.6%),
$ 568,142,
5.4 jobs |
| Loss of fee share to Lassen County = $865/year |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Loss of fee share to Lassen County = $1,908/year |
| Loss of tax revenue to Lassen County = $2,252/year |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Loss of tax revenue to Lassen County = $4,850/year |
Washoe Co first 5 years (each yr) = Reduce 8,877 AUMs
(9.6%)
$ 455,426
4.3 jobs |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Washoe Co first 5 years (each year) = Reduce 18,419
AUMs (19.9%)
$ 950,634
9 jobs |
| Loss of fee share to Washoe County = $1,498/year |
Same as Alt 1 |
Same as Alt 1 |
Loss of fee share to Washoe County = $ 3,108/year |
