Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation ...

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Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation Management Project different route and the road number for the upper part of the road was changed to match the new road. The mid-portion of the road has been decommissioned because of it's proximity to the stream. The trail head is now located on FSR 118.2 which is accessed off of FSR 118.1C. Forest Service sponsored timber sales in this area began in the late 1950s and the local road system was constructed to accommodate those sales in the 1960-70s. Many of these roads were not classified (i.e. included in the Forest road system) and so have not received recurrent maintenance and are grown over with vegetation. Existing Condition The Analysis Area is accessed by a system of Forest roads from State Highway (SH) 17 between Antonito, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico. Public vehicle access terminates within or beyond the area at a closed gate at the end of FSR 118.1C. It also terminates at the unimproved trailhead of non-motorized Forest System Trail (FST) 736, and at a physical road closure on FSR 118.1D. The main travel destinations within the Analysis Area are the trailhead and the closed gate. The logging roads beyond this closed gate are used by some individuals for indirect non-motorized access to FST 813, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. Forest System Roads 118 and 118.1C are maintained to allow use by passenger cars. Other authorized roads in the Analysis Area are maintained for high clearance vehicles. Natural road closure measures are in place in several locations to control access to many of the timber roads that are unauthorized for motor vehicle travel. Non-motorized uses are accepted on roads with travel restrictions. Several miles of old unclassified roads were constructed in the past to facilitate timber harvest. These road templates are now grown in with vegetation and are crossed with down timber. One or more of these old roads may be reconstructed to a minimal standard to permit passage by logging equipment and log trucks. When harvest activities are complete, decommissioning will occur to bring the unclassified roads back into resource production. Several areas located along some Forest System Roads are contributing to erosion and sedimentation concerns. As part of all action alternatives, prior to harvesting, culverts or other cross drains will be installed on roads to disconnect road drainage from streams and divert it into buffer strips. The existing local road system within the analysis area is generally well located and adequate to serve the majority of the proposed project needs. Table 3.15-1. Roads Information Table ROAD NUMBER MAINT- ENANCE LEVEL LENGTH In MILES CURRENT STATUS COMMENTS 118 3 1.8 OPEN MAINTAIN 1.75 MILES 118.1A 1 1.8 DECOMMISSIONED NO USE 118.1C 3 3.2 OPEN SPOT RECONSTRUCTION 118.1H 1 0.5 CLOSED NO USE / LEAVE CLOSED 118.1J 1 0.4 CLOSED RECONSTRUCT / LEAVE CLOSED 118.1K 1 0.2 CLOSED RECONSTRUCT / LEAVE CLOSED Chapter 3 – Affected Environment & Environmental Consequences Page 3-80
Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation Management Project Table 3.15-1. Roads Information Table ROAD NUMBER MAINT- ENANCE LEVEL LENGTH In MILES CURRENT STATUS COMMENTS 2 2.8 OPEN SPOT RECONSTRUCT 2.4 MILE 118.2 / CONVERT 0.8 MILE TO TRAIL/DECOMMISSION 0.4 MILE 118.2A 2 / 1 0.2 / 0.4 OPEN /CLOSED NO USE / LEAVE CLOSED 118.2B 1 0.4 DECOMMISSIONED NO USE 118.2C 1 0.1 DECOMMISSIONED NO USE 118.2D 2 / 1 0.9 0.3 OPEN / DECOMMISSIONED RECONSTRUCT 1.0 MILE & LEAVE CLOSED O.2 MILE 118.2E 1 0.9 CLOSED RECONSTRUCT 0.75 MILE / LEAVE CLOSED 118.2F 1 1.4 CLOSED RECONSTRUCT / LEAVE CLOSED 118.2G 1 0.7 CLOSED RECONSTRUCT / LEAVE OPENED Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects Alternative 1 – No Action The No Action alternative would require no new disturbance and would result in no change to the existing transportation network. Several areas along existing roads would continue to contribute to erosion concerns and sediment deposition into streams and would be repaired only when this work becomes a priority and when funding is available. Alternative 2 – Full Salvage Harvest Most of the treatment areas are accessible using the existing transportation system but minor road reconstruction and the use of some old unclassified roads would be required for access, to improve safety, and to provide for additional resource protection. Two-tenths of a mile of temporary road construction would also be needed. Pre-haul maintenance would occur on approximately 1.75 miles of FSR 118. Road reconstruction, with concurrent maintenance, would be carried out on approximately 10 miles of Forest road. Reconstruction would include some culvert replacements, grade dip installation, and road surface reconditioning over a number of sections of road. Spot gravel applications may be added to problematic native-material road base to harden road surfaces. Fill and surfacing material for this work would be obtained from the existing gravel pit at the intersection of FSR 118 & FSR 116, or from outside weed-free sources as necessary. These efforts would reduce erosion, and the resultant sedimentation, from these road sections. A portion of FSR 118.2 (0.8 miles) would be decommissioned and converted to FST 736 once harvest activities are completed and the trail head would be relocated. An additional 0.4 mile of FSR 118.2 would also be decommissioned, with long-term road access routed along FSR 118.2G. These actions will move road use away from the river and greatly improve road drainage. They will also reduce road reconstruction disturbance and cost. All Chapter 3 – Affected Environment & Environmental Consequences Page 3-81
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