Big Creek Restoration and Access Management Plan DRAFT Implementation Strategy October 27, Introduction

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1 Introduction The (BCRAMP) was considered in an Environmental Assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the selected alternative for implementation is Alternative C. The selected action includes consideration of all known routes and roads in the project area. Of the 80 miles of routes and roads in the project area on Forest Service land, miles of existing Federal Roads and Trails Act (FRTA) easements to counties and 0.08 miles of National Forest System (NFS) Maintenance Level (ML) 3 road in the Big Creek campground would remain unchanged. All roads will be designated or decommissioned as required for a minimum road system decision. There will be 9.14 miles of NFS ML2 road open for administrative and private access only, 0.45 miles of NFS ML2 road open to public access, 3.94 miles of ML1 Road, miles dually designated as of Trail Open to all Vehicles (TOV) and NFS ML1 Road, and 0.74 miles TOV. Of the existing unauthorized routes, miles will be decommissioned and obliterated and 7.25 miles will be decommissioned and rehabilitated. An additional miles of existing road (mostly NFS Road Level 2) will be placed in a FRTA easement to public road agencies (in addition to the miles of existing FRTA easement). The existing 2.35 miles authorized as a temporary road under a Plan of Operations will continue to be authorized until the Plan of Operations is terminated and changes to the segments of temporary road identified for decommission/rehabilitation or decommission/obliteration proposed in Alternative C will not be implemented until the temporary road is no longer authorized. The range of actions to be taken under each of these treatment categories was described in the Environmental Assessment. Implementation Strategy The strategy shown below in the map and text is the intended sequencing of route related treatments. This sequence is designed to meet two objectives: 1) Assure that actions and mitigations that are intended to improve watershed condition occur in a timely manner that is consistent with the long term benefits defined in the Forest Plan. 2) Provide for increased public access in a timely fashion. This strategy is based on general information used in the analysis. The Forest Service will need to take a more detailed look at each route to determine exact restoration and SDRR treatments. This draft implementation strategy will likely be refined prior to implementation and exact treatments may change when a more detailed survey is done. This is described below as Phase 1 Develop a detailed treatment plan. General types of treatments for each road classification are described in the Environmental Assessment. Specific route treatment plans will be developed or approved by the Forest Service based on field verified conditions at the time of implementation and the types and location of actions needed to achieve the objectives proposed 1

2 for each road classification (i.e., Decom/Obliteration, DREHAB, ML2, ML1, TOV, FRTA, etc). The implementation sequencing is shown as bullets in an overview format and geospatially on Figure 1 on the following pages. Implementation timelines and details presented in Figure 1 are also presented in Table 1 for readability. Overview of Implementation Sequence Golden Cup Road Trail Open to All Vehicles (Code 8 from Figure 1/Table 1) In Alt C, this route goes from unauthorized route to Trail Open to All Vehicles (TOV) o Rolling dips and other drainage maintenance. o No stream crossing improvements anticipated due to lack of crossings. Phase 3 change MVUM to TOV. NF Logan/Ludwig Mine Road Trail Open to All Vehicles (Code 8 from Figure 1/Table 1) In Alt C, this route goes from unauthorized route to TOV o Rolling dips and other drainage maintenance. o One stream crossing improvement on non-fish bearing stream. Phase 3 change MVUM to TOV. Upper McCrae Mine Road Trail Open to All Vehicles (Code 8 from Figure 1/Table 1) In Alt C, this route goes from unauthorized route to TOV o Rolling dips and other drainage maintenance. o Three stream crossing improvements on non-fish bearing streams. Phase 3 change MVUM to TOV. 2

3 Lower McCrae Mine Road Trail Open to All Vehicles (Code 8 from Figure 1/Table 1) In Alt C, this route goes from unauthorized route to TOV o Rolling dips o Three stream crossing improvements on non-fish bearing streams. o Install Aquatic Organism Passage structure (AOP) on lower crossing (approximately 20 foot span bridge or open bottom arch). o Improve two non-fish bearing crossings with culvert or hardened ford. Phase 3 change MVUM to TOV Smith Creek ATV Trail Conversion from ATV trail to FRTA Road (Code 2 from Figure 1/Table 1) In Alt C, this route goes from ATV (50 ) Trail to FRTA Road (similar to ML2) o Reconstruct rolling dips installed in 2014/15 for the ATV trail. o Improve approximately 12 stream crossings with culverts or armoring. o AOP (bridge) at lower Smith Creek crossing. o AOP (bridge or open bottom culvert) at middle Smith Creek tributary crossing. o Three possible AOPs (open bottom arch) depending on fish distribution. o Brush widening for sight distance. o Re-establish historic 12 tread width with 2 ditches Brushing and tread widening would need DECOM/Oblit on BC Loop as offset. Phase 3 issue FRTA Easement to Valley County and revise MVUM. Smith Creek Pueblo Summit Road Conversion from ML2 to FRTA Road (Code 5 from Figure 1/Table 1) In Alt C, this route goes from ML2 to FRTA Road. (If an application is received from Valley County and/or Idaho County) Phase 2 implement SDRR and stream crossing improvements within 5 years of decision date. Likely action include: o Rolling dips and other drainage maintenance. o Approximately six stream crossing improvements on non-fish bearing streams. 3

4 Unauthorized routes being added to Atlas as ML2-AP (Code 7 from Figure 1/Table 1) In Alt C, Routes that covert from unauthorized routes to ML2AP Phase 1 develop treatment plan. Phase 2 install user controls within 3 years and implement SDRR and stream crossing improvements within 5 years of the decision date. Phase 3 open for motor vehicle access for administrative and private use under permit. Likely SDRR and stream crossing improvements by ML2AP route include: Rocket Mine o Rolling dips. o Improve approximately 2 non-fish bearing crossings with culverts or hardened fords. Independence Mine o Rolling dips. o Improve approximately three crossings with structures or hardened fords. Government Creek o Rolling dips. o Install AOP structure on Government Creek crossing. Upper North Fork Logan Creek o Rolling dips o Improve approximately 1 crossing with structure or hardened ford. Moscow Mine o Rolling dips o Apply aggregate as needed. o Improve approximately 1 crossing with structure or hardened ford. Upper Big Creek Loop o Rolling dips o Improve approximately two crossings with structures. AOP may be needed based on fish distribution. DECOM/Obliteration (Code 1 from Figure 1/Table 1) Implement within 3 years of decision date. 4

5 Conversion from unauthorized to ML1 or DREHAB (Code 3 from Figure 1/Table 1) Phase 2 within 3 years of signing the decision implement Long Term Storage treatments. BCRAMP routes that overlap with Big Creek Roads Plan of Operations (Code 6 from Figure 1/Table 1) In Alt C, Routes that covert from unauthorized routes to ML1 or DREHAB and overlap with Big Creek Roads Plan of Operations. Phase 2 implement Long Term Storage (LTS). Partial implementation of LTS (i.e., SDRR) within 5 years if Plan of Operations for road use and associated SDRR has not been implemented, otherwise implement LTS when plan expires. Within 3 years of the decision date install user controls. Dispersed Campsites (Code 4 from Figure 1/Table 1) Phase 1 dispersed conduct site assessment and develop a detailed treatment plan. Phase 2 within 5 years of signing the decision implement treatment plan. 5

6 Figure 1. Map of 6

7 Table 1. Implementation details from insert in Figure 1. BCRAMP Implementation Timelines Code Implementation Description Applicable Road Classification 1 Implement within 3 years of decision date. DECOM/OBLIT Phase 1 develop treatment plan 1. Phase 2 implement SDRR and stream crossing improvement. Prior to allowing any widening of route (i.e., blading and clearing vegetation) for increased vehicle clearance under FRTA, complete RCA road/oblit treatments elsewhere. Phase 3 revise MVUM. Phase 1 develop treatment plan. Phase 2 within 3 years of signing the decision implement Long Term Storage (LTS). Phase 1 dispersed site assessment and treatment plan. Phase 2 within 5 years of signing decision retain or rehabilitate sites. Phase 1 develop treatment plan. Phase 2 implement SDRR and stream crossing improvements within 5 years of decision date. Phase 1 develop treatment plan. Phase 2 implement LTS. Partial implementation of LTS (i.e., SDRR) within 5 years if Plan of Operations for road use and associated SDRR has not been implemented, otherwise implement LTS when plan expires. Within 3 years of the decision date install user controls. Phase 1 develop treatment plan. Phase 2 install user controls within 3 years and implement SDRR and stream crossing improvements within 5 years of the decision date. Phase 3 open for motor vehicle access for admin and private use under permit. Phase 1 develop treatment plan. Phase 2 within 5 years of the decision date implement SDRR and required stream crossing improvements. Phase 3 revise MVUM. NA Smith Creek ATV conversion to FRTA ML1 or DREHAB Dispersed campsites ML2 conversion to FRTA, ML2, ML3 ML1 or DREHAB on roads that overlap with a Plan of Operations ML2AP TOV Private and other roads with no change. Note: The route treatment plans will be developed or approved by the Forest Service based on field verified conditions at the time of implementation and the types and location of actions needed to achieve the objectives proposed for each road classification (i.e., Decom/Obliteration, DREHAB, ML2, ML1, TOV, FRTA, etc). 7

8 List of Acronyms used in this document ATV AOP BCRAMP CG motorized trail open to vehicles 50 inches or less in width Aquatic Organism Passage Campground DEC/OBLIT Decommission/Obliterate DREHAB EA FRTA LTS ML1 ML2 ML2AP ML3 MVUM NEPA NFS PRI RCA SDRR TEMP TOV UNAUTH Decommission/Rehabilitate Environmental Assessment Forest Roads and Trails Act, used to refer to a specific easement Long Term Storage National Forest System Maintenance Level 1 Road, closed to administrative, private, and public motorized access National Forest System Maintenance Level 2 Road, open to public motorized access and suitable for high clearance vehicles National Forest System Maintenance Level 2 Road, open to administrative and private motorized access only National Forest System Maintenance Level 3 Road, open to motorized public and suitable for passenger vehicles Motor Vehicle Use Map National Environmental Policy Act National Forest System Private Road Riparian Conservation Area Storm Damage Risk Reduction non-system route authorized as a Temporary Road in a Plan of Operations Trail Open to all Vehicles Unauthorized 8