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

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Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation Management Project Existing Condition Dispersed Recreation A diverse array of dispersed recreation opportunities occur within the analysis area. These opportunities include but are not limited to: driving for pleasure, sight-seeing, hiking, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, picnicking, firewood gathering, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing to a system of yurts, use of all-terrain-vehicles (ATV) on roads, and snowmobiling. Resource Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) Settings Managed recreation setting for MAP 5.13 is modified roaded. Modified roaded can be described as partially modified by road or trails, but does not overpower the natural setting, as highways are over ½ mile away. Sights and sounds of humans or their impacts are common, but solitude can be found in the area. Facilities are harmonious with the natural setting. System Trails/Trailheads/Visitor Use Forest system trail, number 736, is located just north of the analysis area, with the access road to this trailhead located within the analysis area. Project design criteria would be employed to minimize the effects to trail users if Alternatives 2 or 3 are selected. Outfitters and Guides There is one outfitter who is permitted to use the area, Southwest Nordic Center (SNC). SNC has a total of four yurts, one would be affected by winter logging as the access to the yurt is along the haul route. Project design criteria are being employed to minimize affects to these recreationists. Travel Management Forest travel regulations restrict motorized travel to designated roads and trails. Trail number 736 is closed to motorized uses. All of the gated roads are also closed to motorized uses. Roads are the only routes open to motorized uses within the analysis area. Additionally, Forest regulations allow vehicles to leave roads for a distance of 300 feet to access a suitable campsite or for gathering fuelwood, as long as no damage is caused to lands, streams, or other resources. Also, game retrieval is allowed within MAP 5.13 during the big game hunting seasons. Game retrieval is allowed in the afternoons and only low tire pressure ATV’s under 48 inches in width are permitted. Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects Alternative 1 – No Action This alternative could have some impacts to recreationists if the widespread effect of dead trees scattered on the ground impedes access and users ability to move around within the area, and the safety aspects of many standing dead trees preclude the use of the area. Cross-country skiers may not be able to access areas until the snow is deep enough for the same reasons. In the long-run, this alternative will not reduce conflicts between motorized and non-motorized use below current-day levels because the trailhead for Forest System Trail 736 will not be Chapter 3 – Affected Environment & Environmental Consequences Page 3-84
Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation Management Project located closer to Forest System Road 118.1C, and a portion of Forest System Road 118.2 along the Rio de los Pinos will remain open to motorized use and in poor condition. There would be no opportunity under this alternative to decommission any System roads that are no longer needed due to location, resource issues or other factors. Alternative 2 – Full Salvage Harvest This alternative would have temporary effects to recreation users, especially during the active timber sales with heavy truck traffic on the roads leading into the sale areas. There would also be somewhat less opportunity for fuel wood gathering than the current situation (only the current open roadways get fuel wood traffic). The Outfitter permit with the yurts would be impacted by winter logging. Project design criteria would allow logging up until December 15. The project design criteria would also include designated trailhead parking areas within the analysis area during the life of the timber sale contract. The designated sites are to ensure the public safety. This alternative also would result in increasing the length of trail 736, by decreasing the length of road 118.2; the amount of change is 0.8 mile. This would be a benefit to non-motorized recreation users. This road-to-trail conversion and trailhead relocation would take place following the timber sales. Following the harvest, the area would be more open, but the recreation use is not expected to change. The recreation/travel management project design criteria are feasible because they would be incorporated into the timber sale contracts to protect recreation improvements, warn visitors of hazards, and minimize impacts to forest users during periods of heaviest use. The project design criteria have been used on other timber sales on the Forest and should be an effective means of minimizing negative impacts to forest users. Currently there is a trail reroute going through the analysis area. A portion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST) is closed just west of the analysis area, from Cumbres Pass to just south of the South San Juan Wilderness, due to hazardous conditions. Visitors are rerouted onto trail 736, then onto Forest System Road 118.2 to Forest System Road 118.1C, and finally to Forest System Road 118 which take them to the CDNST trailhead, traveling south from the South San Juan Wilderness. It is anticipated that the conditions that warranted the trail closure and reroute will be resolved prior to the implementation of this decision. However, if this does not occur and the section of the CDNST is still closed, a determination will be made at that time as to a safe route that the public should use if planning to travel through the area for the CDNST trail. Effects of Alternative 2 on the South San Juan Wilderness Area and backcountry experiences of National Forest users focuses on noise from timber harvesting operations. Visual impacts have been in section 3.11. The backcountry area to the west of the analysis area would be seperated from noise and visual impacts by a major ridgeline, hence there would be minimal or no effects to visuals or noise from that area. The South San Juan Wilderness Area sits north of the analysis area and users may hear noise from trucks and/or logging equipment during operations, depending on wind and other environmental factors. Chapter 3 – Affected Environment & Environmental Consequences Page 3-85
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Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation ...

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