Decision Memo. USDA Forest Service Fall Enduro Events. Mendocino National Forest, Grindstone Ranger District. Colusa County, California

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1 J*\ Decision Memo USDA Forest Service 2010 Fall Enduro Events Mendocino National Forest, Grindstone Ranger District Colusa County, California Decision I have decided to authorize three separate enduro events on the Grindstone Ranger District of Mendocino National Forest. The Oakland, Valley Climber's and Richmond Rambler's Motorcycle Clubs have each applied for a special use permits to promote off-highway vehicle (OHV) enduro events using routes located on the Grindstone and Upper Lake Ranger Districts, Mendocino National Forest. Annually, each club would hold a one day endurance event in the fall. The events would utilize the Davis Flat/Fouts Springs OHV Staging Area as a base of operations. The dates of the events are October 17, November 14 and November 21. Routes that can be considered in the enduro events include 63.5 miles of motorcycle trail (south end ofthe Grindstone Ranger District), 56 miles ofall terrain vehicles (ATV's) which are located only on the south end of the old Stonyford Ranger District, and 120 miles of true four-wheel drive routes (greater than 50' width). On the Grindstone district there exists 480 miles of level 2 roads. Approximately 40-45% of these roads are open to analysis for enduro events. The other 55% is on the north end of the Grindstone District and will not be analyzed for this years' permit. In addition, no enduro routes north of the Fouts Springsarea will be utilized during any of the events. Trail 32 from its junction with 17N84 near Fouts Springs southwest to where it reaches a parcel of private on Letts Ridge is closed until further notice. Routes used for each enduro are located on designated roads and trails stated above. Each route varies in length from 60 to 110 miles. Each event has traditionally attracted from 300 to 400 participants. The maximum that will be considered under this decision is 450 participants. The area affected by these three events includes approximately 14 acres of camping and staging and 2 acres of support area including a gas area, sign up and start/finish areas. Issues considered during the analysis included public safety (including traffic control), impacts to threatened and endangered species (especially red legged frogs), Forest Service sensitive species (yellow-legged frogs), noise and traffic impacts to surrounding special use permittees (Fouts Springs) and private land Page 1 of 9

2 /^^N /**S^i owners (Bonnie view), and the potential for resource damage due to off highway vehicles traveling across streams. After careful consideration, it was determined that none of these issues is significant. The following requirements are included under the approval for these events. 1. Throughout the event, 98-99% of the people typically camp in the Fouts Springs area. Use of the Little Stony Campground should be minimal. Should this pattern change for some unexpected reason, this decision should be re evaluated for effects. 2. County deputies and Forest Service law enforcement officers will be advised priorto the events and will be on site to assistwhenever possible. Safety will be further encouraged by utilizing the National motorcycle patrol or local search and rescue to patrol the trails. 3. Participant's motorcycles must meet all requirements for legal operation on public lands including a Forest Service approved spark arrestor/muffler and a current off-highway vehicle registration or proof of out-of-state permits. 4. Ifthere is 2 inches of rainfall measured at the Stonyford Work Center in a 24 hour period before an event, the event will be cancelled or postponed to a later date when there has been no measurable precipitation in a 48 hour period. This will be stated in the operating plan for each event. Stream crossings must be located on low maintenance roads and established OHV crossings. This will help prevent sediment from entering the streams, since the crossings are located on rocky creek-beds. 5. Designated fueling areas will be used at each event. Fueling areas will not be located within 300' of creeks or springs. 6. No unauthorized motorcycle travel by event participants will be allowed within 300' of the riparian zone. 7. The permittee will dispose of refuse resulting from the use, including waste materials, garbage, and rubbish of all kinds by hauling it to an approved land fill site. 8. The permittee will limit the number or entries to no more than 450, and will take steps to insure that no more than this number leave the starting line or otherwise participate in this event. 9. The permittee shall take steps to provide for the safety of the event participants, spectators and other Forest users. These steps shall include adequate warning signs on all roads and flagmen posted at all points that the Page 2 of 9

3 jm s0 *) course enters a main road and at critical road intersections. The attached safety plan will be attached as part of the special use permit. 10. No signs or advertising devices shall be erected on the area covered by this permit, or highways leading thereto, without prior approval by the Forest Service as to location, design, size, color, and message. Erected signs shall be maintained to neat and presentable standards. All signs will be removed as soon after the event as possible. 11. The town of Stonyford is approximately nine miles from the Davis Flat area. The majority of food, beverages, supplies and other necessities can be purchased in Stonyford. Because of this, vendors are not considered critical to the enduro event at this time. Historically, a t-shirt vendor has been approved as part of the enduro special use permit. Because of this, this vendor will be permitted to operate under this analysis. In the case that the vendor chooses to no longer participate in the events, no additional concessionaires will be utilized to provide services and supplies to event participants and spectators. 12. Monitoring of the routes following an event should be completed to ensure sites are identified that may need to be corrected to ensure hydrologic stability. 13. The permittee will comply with hydrology BMPs listed in Appendices A and B at the end of this document. Project Design Standards This project implements the following Forest Plan direction: It is located in the Fouts/Summit Springs (#3) and Blue Slides (#21) Management Area. [It does not meet any specific management area goals otherthan directing OHV users to designated trails.] It contributes to the following Forest Goals: > [ RECREATION - the project facilitates S&G#3- permit off-highway use on designated roads, trail; S&G#9- consider private sector recreation permits on a case-by-case basis when use and activities cannot be reasonably accommodated on private lands. This action is categorically excluded from documentation in an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement, pursuant to Forest Service Handbook , Chapter 30, Section 31.2, (15) "Issuance of a new special use authorization for a new term to replace an existing or expired special use authorization when the only changes are administrative, there are no changes to the authorized facilities or increases in the scope or intensity of authorized activities, and the applicant or holder is in full compliance with the terms and conditions of the special use authorization". Page 3 of 9

4 / s /ms Pursuant to FSH , Section 30.3,1 have determined that no extraordinary circumstances exist regarding the following resource conditions: a) Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species. There is habitat and occurrences of federally threatened and endangered and Forest sensitive species, however their will be no significant affect on them1 b) Flood plains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds. Floodplains and municipal watersheds will not be affected by these enduro events2 c) Congressionally designated areas, such aswilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas. There are no congressionally designated areas within the project APE. d) Inventoried roadless areas. It is not an inventoried roadless area. e) Research natural areas. It is not a research natural area. f) American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites. There are no Native American religious or cultural sites at the facility. g) Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas. No archaeological sites will be adversely affected by the enduro events (sites affected will be monitored before and after the event)3. Public Involvement This project was first listed in the Mendocino National Forest schedule of proposed actions in the October2010 edition. There were no responses to the SOPA listing. We also published a scoping notice in the 08/12/2010 issue of the Chico Enterprise Record. No responses were received. Findings Required by Other Laws This action complies with all applicable Forest Plan direction, as documented in the Biological Assessment/Evaluation document for Threatened and Endangered Species (Angerer 2010). The project is consistent with stipulations in the First Amended Regional Programmatic Agreement Among the U.S.D.A. Forest 1Wildlife BE/BA, Angerer (10/7/10). 2 Robert Sanchez memo (10/21/10) 3Heritage Project Approval Form (Dugas-05/18/10) Page 4 of 9

5 r Service, Pacific Southwest Region, California State Historic Preservation Officer, and Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Regarding the Process for Compliance with Section 106 of the NationalHistoric Preservation Act for Undertakings on the National Forests of the Pacific Southwest Region (2001). Appeal Opportunities and Implementation Date My decision is not subject to appeal, in accordance with the October 19,2005, order issued by the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in Case No. CIV F JKS. Implementation of this proposal may occur immediately. Contact Person For further information, please contact Michael Dugas (ID Team Leader) at the Mendocino National Forest, Grindstone District Office at 825 N. Humboldt Ave, Willows, California, The phone number is (530) /^/?Oi0 EDUARDO OLMEDO District Ranger Date ******************************************************** The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part ofan individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C , or call (800) (voice) or (202) (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Page 5 of 9

6 /STOy Appendix A LRMP Compliance Checklist Hydrology-Related Management Direction 2010 Enduros Standards and Guides The following checklist covers the LRMP Standards and Guides with which projects and activities must comply regarding the resources normally evaluated by the hydrologist. Information is provided regarding project design elements and resource conditions which affect the project's or activity's compliance with the Standards and Guides. Watershed &Water Quality (Pages IV - 40,41) S&G# Requirement Project Compliance 1a. Within all watersheds, identify depleted watershed areas during the project environmental assessment process. Incorporate improvement activities as a part of the project. 1c. Within all watersheds, analyze projects that propose land disturbing activities for their effects on the appropriate level of watershed (normally second to fourth order watersheds) in order to prevent excessive cumulative watershed effects on stream channel condition and water quality. Cumulative watershed effects (CWE) analysis will be used to gauge impacts of past, present, and proposed management activities on a watershed. 1d. Within all watersheds, implement Best Management Practices (BMP) to meet water quality objectives and maintain and improve the quality of surface water on the Forest. Identify methods and techniques for applying the BMPs during project level environmental analysis and incorporate them into the associated project plan and implementation documents. Areas of concern are listed within the hydro report The proposed activities are not land disturbing in nature BMPs prescribed in Appendix B of Hydrology report are based upon current knowledge of the trails. 2a. Within Key Watersheds, prohibit road Page 6 of 9

7 S&G# Requirement Project Compliance construction in remaining unroaded portions of inventoried (RARE II) roadless areas. 2b. Within Key Watersheds, permit no net increase in the amount of road mileage. 2d. Within Key Watersheds, conduct watershed analysis prior to management activities, except minor activities such as those categorically excluded under NEPA with the exception of timber harvesting. Require watershed analysis prior to timber harvesting. Riparian & Aquatic Ecosystems (Pages IV ) S&G # i Requirement Project Compliance 1c. Maintain and restore the physical integrity of the aquatic system, including shorelines, banks, and bottom configurations (ACS Objective). 1d. Maintain and restore water quality necessary to support healthy riparian, aquatic, and wetland ecosystems. Water quality must remain within the range that maintains the biological, physical, and chemical integrity of the system and benefits survival, growth, reproduction, and migration of individuals composing aquatic and riparian communities (ACS Objective). 1e. Maintain and restore the sediment regime under which aquatic ecosystems evolved. Elements of the sediment regime include the timing, volume, rate, and character of sediment input, storage, and transport (ACS Objective). There are stream crossings located within the OHV system, these have maintenance completed on them and these activities should not impact the integrity of the aquatic system Implementation of BMPs and trail maintenance will protect water quality from significant direct, indirect or cumulative effects. Implementation of BMPs and trail maintenance will prevent significant direct or indirect effects on sediment production rates or on sediment routing. Page 7 of 9

8 frms^ /^STK W MI8ji g$^ Project Compliahce ; if. ig. Maintain and restore in-stream flows sufficient to create and sustain riparian, aquatic, and wetland habitats and to retain patterns of sediment, nutrient, and wood routing. The timing, magnitude, duration, and spatial distribution of peak high, and low flows must be protected (ACS Objective). Maintain and restore the timing, variability, and duration of floodplain inundation and water table elevation in meadows and wetlands (ACS Objective). The activities listed in the proposed action will not alter these characteristics as long as the implementation of BMPs and trail maintenance occurs. None of the activities have the potential to affect this. 1h. Maintain and restore the species composition and structural diversity of plant communities in riparian areas and wetlands to provide adequate summer and winter thermal regulation, nutrient filtering, appropriate rates of surface erosion, bank erosion, and channel migration and to supply amounts and distributions of coarse woody debris sufficient to sustain physical complexity and stability (ACS Objective). With the implementation of BMPs, trail maintenance and adherence to travel management policies this objective will be met. 3b (2). 3b (4). 3b (5). 3b (6). In Riparian Reserves, do not use mitigation or planned restoration as a substitute for preventing habitat degradation. In Riparian Reserves, identify and control the cause of riparian area degradation prior to initiating restoration projects. Approve the use of heavy equipment within riparian reserves for riparian habitat restoration only after an interdisciplinary review. Fell trees in riparian reserves when they pose a safety risk. Utilize the standardized hazard tree definitions. Keep felled trees on-site when needed to meet coarse woody debris objectives. No habitat would be degraded. Page 8 of 9

9 Appendix B Best Management Practices 2010 Enduros Introduction: Activities of this nature typically are of no concern, because they are not land disturbing activities. Implementation of the following BMPs will assure the protection of the watershed resources. BMPs: The following BMPs should be implemented when completing the proposed activities: BMP# Title Additional Instructions 2.12 Servicing and Re-fueling Equipment Fueling areas should be located at least 800 feet from a stream course. Hydrologist should be contacted if alternate site would like to be used. 4.4 Control of Sanitation Facilities 4.5 Control of Solid Waste Disposal Portable toilets (if used) should be located to minimize the possibility of water contamination Have enough trash receptacles available for the number of people, and be located to minimize the possibility of water contamination 7.7 Management by Closure to Use The Forests rain closure policy will be in effect. Trails should be closed after significant rain has fallen and poses a risk for resource damage. Trails will be opened back up when the risk of resource damage has passed. Travel Management Policy Vehicles are required to stay on designated motorized routes at all times. Page 9 of 9