Cheyenne Canyon Tussock Moth Control Project

United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Service SLIDE 1

Final Proposed Action PresentationWednesday May 18, 2016

5:30 PM MST

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SLIDE 2

2014 Farm Bill, Section 8204, Insect & Disease

• Amended Title VI of Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) of 2003

• Added section 602 (Designation of Treatment Areas)

• Added section 603 (Administrative Review for NFS lands)

SLIDE 3

Health Forest Restoration Act (HFRA), Section 602, Designation of Treatment Areas

Areas designated as part of an insect and disease treatment program must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Experiencing forest health decline based on annual forest health surveys;

• At risk of experiencing substantially increased tree mortality based on the most recent Forest Health Protection Insect and Disease Risk Map; or

• Contains hazard trees that pose an imminent risk to public infrastructure, health or safety

• In April 2014, Governor Hickenlooper requested the entire Pike National Forest be designated as an Insect and Disease Treatment Area allowing for new Farm Bill authorities to be used.

SLIDE 4

Healthy Forest Restoration Act, Section 603, Administrative Review

Projects that reduce the risk or extent of, or increase the resilience to, insect or disease infestation may be carried out in designated areas with expedited NEPA reviews.

Under section 603, an insect and disease project may be categorically excluded if:

• Does not exceed 3,000 treated acres

• Located in WUI or certain fire condition classes

• Does not establish permanent roads

Projects must also:

• Maximize old growth and large trees to the extent the trees promote stands that are resilient to insect and disease threats;

• Consider best available scientific information; and

• Be developed and implemented through a collaborative process

SLIDE 5

Tussock Moth Control Project Collaborative Process

SLIDE 6

Initial Collaboration Initial Project Proposal Public Notice

Public Collaboration/Meeting

30 Day Comment Period Ends

Modified Project Proposal Based on Collaborative Input

Analysis Decision Memo Implementation

Follow-up Monitoring

Tussock Moth Control Project Collaborative Process

SLIDE 7

Refined Purpose & Need Statement (4/7/16)

Purpose & Need of the Project

1. Minimize the spread and intensity of Douglas-fir Tussock moth outbreak in the Cheyenne Canyon area.

2. Complement state and local efforts to control the moth.

3. Protect high-value trees including old growth and large diameter Douglas-fir adjacent to current infestations

SLIDE 8

Initial Proposed Action (4/8/16)

• Treat 511 acres near Cheyenne Canyon for Douglas-fir Tussock moth

• Control would be accomplished using Foray 48B Biological Insecticide (Btk)

• Insecticide would be applied from the air by helicopter

• Treatment would happen between June 15 and July 1

• Treatment area would be closed for 24 hours after aerial application

SLIDE 9

Initial Project Area Map (4/11/16)

SLIDE 10

Collaborative Input Process Results

• Collaborated with stakeholders via weekly conference calls and numerous stakeholder meetings

• Reached out to Front Range Roundtable and El Paso County Regional Watershed Collaborative

• Engaged the public in dialogue

• Received 4 public comments during scoping

• Consulted with Tribal Governments, US FWS, and SHPO

• Responses to comments are posted to the project website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=49032

• There were 3 common themes to the comments; concerns for water impact, allowing for natural controls, and area closures

SLIDE 11

Comments Theme 1: Impacts to water

“Our drinking water comes from Little Fountain Creek. We are

concerned about pollution of our drinking water.”

“The spraying will occur over Cheyenne Creek and Bear Creek,

two major suppliers of water to the Springs communities.

Although considered safe what if it is not and the pesticide finds a

way into our drinking water supply?”

“…ensure that any proposed actions under this project consider

impacts to water quality and system operations as immediate

concerns to be addressed…”

“…require a process of water quality sampling and verification

before these sources [of drinking water] can be turned back into

operation.”

SLIDE 12

Modifications to Final Project

• No application will occur where surface water is present including ponds, lakes, and wetlands and perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral streams.

• Added 100 foot no spray buffers on either side of all perennial and ephemeral streams, reducing the total treatment area from 511 acres to 408 acres.

• Some treatment area was eliminated because it became too small with the new buffers.

• Colorado Springs Utilities will be conducting water quality sampling before and after treatment.

SLIDE 13

Comments Theme 2: Allow for natural control

“…It appears that natural controls will end the current outbreak

of tussock moth. Wouldn’t it make more sense to take no action

and let the Tussock moth population naturally die out?”

“This infestation may not even be as bad as foreseen and in a

multitude of other cases in different areas typically only last 1-2

years after which the Moths die off or are eradicated by natural

forces such birds, beetles and paper wasps.”

“…outbreaks usually last no more than about 4 years. The fact

sheet for the project, available on line, states: ‘[o]utbreaks

typically last 2-4 years, and we are beginning to see a population

collapse’”

SLIDE 14

Modifications to Final Project

• Signing the decision memo will allow us to treat up to 408 acres. The actual number of acres treated may be less.

• The number of acres to be treated may be adjusted prior to implementation based upon the best available information regarding potential spread of the infestation.

SLIDE 15

Comments Theme 3: Area closures

“…could lose thousands in income if spraying closes access to Old Stage Road. We need to be notified weeks in advance to any road closures.”

“While B-t is not especially harmful to non-target insects and other wildlife, nor is it highly toxic, it can cause eye and skin irritation and other symptoms in humans. See NPIC, 2015.”

“I do not think…the possible sensitization of the population surrounding the area…is justified”

“A final concern is emergency evacuation during road closures. Old Stage Road is currently the only way off the mountain. Gold Camp Road is currently closed in Teller County near Clyde or 7 Lakes Road”. We need to have a route off the mountain in case of emergencies.”

SLIDE 16

Modifications to Final Project

• Only a single treatment would occur during the period when treatment would be most effective.

• The treatment area would be closed to the public only during the period of aerial application.

• Closure will be closely coordinated with the City of Colorado Springs, and emergency vehicle traffic will be allowed.

• We will notify all outfitter and guides and the public prior to treatment.

SLIDE 17

Final Proposed Action Area Map

SLIDE 18

Final Proposed Action Area Map Comparison

SLIDE 19

Initial Proposed Action vs. Final Proposed Action

SLIDE 20

• Added 100 ft. no spray buffers on either side of all streams

• Reduced total treatment area from 511 to 408 acres

• Reduced closure time from 24 hrs. to only during period of application

Tussock Moth Control Project - Next Steps

SLIDE 21

Finalize Analysis Reports

Write Decision Memo

Sign Decision Memo

Coordinate implementation with state/local

agencies

Monitor for moth eggs & caterpillars

Notify public before

implementation

Implement

Follow-up monitoring for

treatment effectiveness

Questions?

We’ll now take your questions about the process or next steps.

If you have specific technical questions, please email TussockMoth@fs.fed.us and we will put you in touch with the correct specialist.

You can type questions into the Q&A box, or speak on the phone.

SLIDE 22

Thank you for your participation!

United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Service SLIDE 23

Any future questions can be directed to TussockMoth@fs.fed.us

For more information, visit the project website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=49032