SCOPING STATEMENT OF THE PROPOSED ACTION FOR THE

Transcription

1 SCOPING STATEMENT OF THE PROPOSED ACTION FOR THE PANGUITCH LAKE COURTESY DOCK INSTALLATION PROJECT U.S. FOREST SERVICE DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST CEDAR CITY RANGER DISTRICT GARFIELD COUNTY, UTAH PROJECT BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY Panguitch Lake is located within the Dixie National Forest, approximately 17 miles southwest of Panguitch, Utah, at an elevation of 8,212 feet. It has 1,234 surface acres, 40,100 acre-feet of water, and has a maximum depth of 66 feet. The lake is the source of Panguitch Creek and is fed by three small inlet streams: Blue Springs Creek, Clear Creek, and Ipson Creek. Panguitch Lake is one of southern Utah's most popular and productive fisheries and has historically been one of the most important sport fisheries in southern Utah. It has long maintained a reputation as one of the best trout producers in the state. Angler use exceeds 125,000 hours annually with 50 boats per day average during summer months. The Cedar City Ranger District of the Dixie National Forest (DNF) proposes to issue a Special Use Authorization to permit the State of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) to install a seasonal 80 x 8 courtesy dock. This new courtesy dock will provide better and safer loading and unloading area for all sizes of boats, which will enhance the boater and angler experience at Panguitch Lake. PROJECT AREA LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION Panguitch Lake is located on the Cedar City Ranger District, within the Dixie National Forest, approximately 17 miles southwest of Panguitch, Utah. The lake is bordered by private lands, mainly to the west and south, and by National Forest System lands to the east and north. Panguitch Lake s main access is via Utah State Route 143, which travels east/west on the southern and eastern shores of the lake. Panguitch Lake can also be accessed from Forest Service Road #30080, which travels east/west bordering the north shore of the lake. Panguitch Lake lies entirely with Garfield County, Utah (Township 35 South, Range 7 West, Sections 32, 33, and 34; and Township 36 South, Range 7 West, Sections 3, 4, and 5; Salt Lake Baseline and Meridian; see attached map). The courtesy dock will be located at the North Panguitch Lake Boat Launch, also known as Wildlife Point (located in the SW¼ Section 34, Township 35 South, Range 7 West, of the Salt Lake Baseline and Meridian). All acreages, distances, durations and other quantities in this document are approximations based on measurements, samples, estimates, computer models and professional judgment commonly applied in environmental analyses. Page 1 of 8

2 PURPOSE AND NEED The purpose of this project is to improve fishing access, improve boater safety, and enhance boater and angler experience by providing a seasonal 80 x 8 courtesy dock, through a Special Use Authorization to the State of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR). In order to accomplish this, there is a need to: 1. Install a seasonal public courtesy dock at Panguitch Lake. A courtesy dock would provide boaters a safe place to dock and enter/exit boats when using Panguitch Lake. Boaters have expressed the desire for courtesy dock at Panguitch Lake for several years. 2. Provide a broad range of outdoor recreation opportunities for all segments of the public (DNF LRMP IV-1, Sec. B. 1. #1). 3. Maintain or improve developed recreation sites within riparian areas (DNF LRMP IV- 19). 4. Design facilities and access to provide site protection, efficient maintenance, and use convenience (DNF LRMP IV-58). PROPOSED ACTION The Cedar City Ranger District proposes the issuance of a Special Use Authorization to the State of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) to provide a seasonal 80 x 8 courtesy dock at the north boat ramp on Panguitch Lake in order to improve fishing access, improve boater safety, and enhance boater and angler experience. The proposed action is to issue a Special Use Authorization to UDWR. The courtesy dock will be the property of UDWR and therefore a Special Use Authorization is required to allow UDWR to install/operate/store a seasonal 80 x 8 courtesy dock on National Forest System Lands. The courtesy dock will be placed in the lake during the spring of each year (after the thaw) and removed from the lake in the fall of each year (before the freeze). The courtesy dock will be available for public use and will allow for temporary loading/unloading and launching/retrieving of watercrafts/water vessels. The courtesy dock will be located at the North Panguitch Lake Boat Launch, also known as Wildlife Point. The courtesy dock will be installed by being anchored to the concrete launch/ramp using cables. While anchored to the concrete launch/ramp, the courtesy dock will float upon the surface of the lake water, providing a stable walking platform for watercraft operators to safely enter/exit and launch their vessels. Subsequently, while in the water, the cables and main anchor will remain on the launch/ramp for future removal and deployment of the dock. The concrete boat launch/ramp is already in place. The courtesy dock will encompass approximately 810 surface area feet (90 x 9 ) on the water. When stored out of the water on the launch/ramp, the courtesy dock will encompass about 810 sq. ft. (90 x 9 ) on land, about acres of land. The total area authorized for the operation and storage of the dock would be approximately 0.38 acres. No additional material will be removed or used as fill during this project or during the life of the Page 2 of 8

3 courtesy dock. Given the existing condition of the grades near the boat ramp at Panguitch Lake and the fluctuating water level throughout the summer season, the courtesy dock will not be accessible. The dock will move up and down the shoreline as the water level fluctuates through the summer months. The courtesy dock cannot be made accessible without significantly changing the characteristic of the site with multiple anchoring points, trails, and ramps. The courtesy dock itself does not appear to be accessible with bumpers and rails and could pose a threat to users requiring such items. Project design features that are included in the proposed action are identified in Table 1. Table 1. Project Design Features Hydrology HS-1. Vehicles and heavy equipment used for the implementation of this project must not allow oils and vehicular fluids to enter the water or lake. Any oils or vehicular fluids from vehicles must be remediated from the concrete launch/ramp and/or the immediate soils. Noxious Weeds NW-1. All equipment must be washed prior to entering Forest Service lands to remove all possible noxious weed seeds and propagules. Any supplies stored in locations where noxious weeds are present needs to be cleaned prior to transport to the project site. Public Safety PS-1. The public will be kept informed about project implementation and changes in access and/or travel delays through timely media announcements and on-the-ground signage. FOREST PLAN DIRECTION All activities are required to be consistent with the Dixie National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (DNF LRMP) (Forest Plan) (16 U.S.C (i)). The Forest Plan provides the overall guidance for management activities by specifying goals and objectives, desired future conditions, management direction and standards and guidelines. This analysis incorporates by reference the direction provided in the DNF LRMP, as amended. The proposed analysis is a project-level analysis that is not intended to re-examine the basic land use allocations made in the LRMP, nor propose broad changes in land use allocations. Forest Plan Direction: The project area lies within Management Areas 1A (Developed Recreation), the shoreline, and 4A (Fish and Aquatic Habitat), the lake itself. These areas are identified in Figure 2: Management Area Map. Guidance for development of the purpose and need for action came from the Dixie National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (DNF 1986). Page 3 of 8

4 The following goals and direction are related to recreation, wildlife and fish, and public information: Recreation Goal No. 1: Provide a broad range of outdoor recreation opportunities for all segments of the public. (DNF LRMP, IV-1) Goal No. 3: Provide a broad spectrum of low cost dispersed recreation opportunities. (DNF LRMP, IV-2) Goal No. 11: Coordinate recreation programs with local, county, state, and other Federal recreation agencies. (DNF LRMP, IV-4) Wildlife and Fish Goal No. 13: Coordinate Fish and Wildlife Program with Utah DWR. (DNF LRMP, IV-5) Public Information Goal No. 54: Increase and maintain service to the public. (DNF LRMP, IV-15) General Direction: Provide appropriate development facilities were the private sector is not meeting the demand. (DNF LRMP, IV-27) Construct, reconstruct, and maintain developed site in accordance with the established recreation opportunity spectrum (ROS) classification for the management area. (DNF LRMP, IV-28) Provide a broad spectrum of dispersed recreation opportunities in accordance with the established Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) classification for the management area. (DNF LRMP, IV-28) Provide opportunities for dispersed and developed recreation adjacent to the impoundment site that are commensurate with land and water capabilities and the multiple use goals for the project. (DNF LRMP, IV-53) Management Area 1A Developed Recreation Page 4 of 8

5 Design facilities and access to provide site protection, efficient maintenance, and user convenience. Design developed sites to ensure that capacity is not exceeded except during heavily used weekends and holidays. (DNF LRMP, IV-58) Management Area 4A Fish and Aquatic Habitat Provide roaded natural recreation opportunities within ½ mile of Forest arterial, collector, and local roads with better than primitive surfaces which are open to public travel. (DNF LRMP, IV-74) ISSUES AND CONCERNS The Forest Service will conduct an environmental analysis of the Proposed Action in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The analysis will determine potential impacts to wildlife, fish, rare plants, threatened, endangered and sensitive species, cultural resources and other resources. Preliminary analysis indicates the potential environmental and cumulative effects that may result from this proposal may be categorically excluded from documentation in an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement (36 CFR 220.6(e)(3)). 36 CFR 220.6(e)(3) includes: Approval, modification, or continuation of minor special uses of NFS lands that require less than five contiguous acres of land. RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL The responsible official for this analysis and decision is the Forest Supervisor, Dixie National Forest, 1789 N. Wedgewood Lane, Cedar City, UT DECISION TO BE MADE The Responsible Official will decide whether to implement the Proposed Action as described, a modification thereof, another alternative or no action. SCOPING PROCESS Individuals, organizations, federal, state and local agencies who are interested in or affected by the decision are invited to participate in the scoping process. Comments received will be used during environmental analysis. COMMENTS REQUESTED Comments will continue to be received and considered throughout the analysis process. Comments received in response to scoping, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record of this proposed action and will be available for public inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and Page 5 of 8

6 considered. To be most helpful in development of the analysis, comments are requested by May 27, Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request the agency to withhold a submission from the public record by showing how the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits such confidentiality. Persons requesting such confidentiality should be aware that, under the FOIA, confidentiality may be granted in only very limited circumstances, such as to protect trade secrets. The Forest Service will inform the requester of the agency s decision regarding the request for confidentiality; where the request is denied, the agency will return the submission and notify the requester that the comments may be resubmitted with or without name and address within a specified number of days. Comments submitted anonymously will be considered in this proposal. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, status as a parent (in education and training programs and activities), because all or part of an individual s income is derived from any public assistance program, or retaliation. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs or activities.) If you require this information in alternative format (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), contact the USDA s TARGET Center at (202) (Voice or TDD). If you require information about this program, activity, or facility in a language other than English, contact the agency office responsible for the program or activity, or any USDA office. To file a complaint alleging discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C , or call toll free, (866) (Voice). TDD users can contact USDA through local relay or the Federal relay at (800) (TDD) or (800) (in Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. You may use USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Forms AD-3027 or AD-3027s (Spanish) which can be found at: and or upon request from a local USDA office. Page 6 of 8

7 Figure 1. The project area. Page 7 of 8

8 Figure 2. The project area. Page 8 of 8