Travel Analysis Process Report. Halfway Malin

Transcription

1 Halfway Malin Travel Analysis Process Report Travel Analysis Process Report United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service 2014 Halfway Malin St. Joe Ranger District Idaho Panhandle National Forests 1

2 Halfway Malin Travel Analysis Process Report Introduction Travel Planning On January 12, 2001, 36 CFR Part 212 was published in the Federal Register and became effective. This Rule amended the Administrative Policy on Forest Transportation Systems under Forest Service Manual (FSM) 7700 by establishing requirements for the administration of the forest transportation system, including roads, trails, airfields, and provisions for acquisition of rights-of-way and requires identification of the minimum road system needed for safe and efficient travel and for administration, utilization, and protection of National Forest System (NFS) lands (per 36 CFR 212.5(b)(1)) and use of a science-based roads analysis at the appropriate scale in determining the minimum road system (FSM ). To paraphrase section 7702, the objective of the Travel Management Policy is to provide a road system that is safe, responsive to the public and agency needs, environmentally sound, affordable and efficient to manage. Travel Management includes making decisions on opportunities to: 1) Maintain and reconstruct needed roads; 2) Decommission unneeded roads; and, 3) Add new roads. According to FSM 7712, travel analysis is not a decision-making process. Travel analysis assesses the current forest transportation system and identifies issues and assesses benefits, problems, and risks to inform decisions relating to administration of the forest transportation system and helps to identify proposals for changes in travel management direction. Direction for completing the TAP is provided in Forest Service Handbook Travel Analysis Process The TAP is not a decision process. Travel Analysis provides the analytical framework from which to make recommendations that may then be examined in the NEPA process, which provides the basis, including formal public involvement, for making decisions. Specific to Halfway Malin, the project interdisciplinary team (IDT) engaged in a travel analysis process (TAP) to look at each road in the proposed area of interest. Through the TAP, the IDT identified needs and recommendations for road access, decommissioning, and long-term storage. The analysis and decision to implement any recommended management practices will be analyzed as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Analysis Halfway Malin Analysis Area The Idaho Panhandle National Forests is proposing a project in the Halfway Malin area on National Forest System lands within the St. Joe Ranger District. The purpose and need, or objectives, for entering the Halfway Malin project area are to achieve the following goals: 1. Increase forest resilience by promoting tree species that are more resilient to root disease, insects, drought, and fire. 2. Increase the quality and quantity of browse for big game wildlife species and maintain elk security. 3. Contribute to a sustainable level of timber products. 2

3 Halfway Malin Travel Analysis Process Report 4. Improve aquatic conditions. 5. Reduce road maintenance costs Data Used in the Analysis The analysis includes all existing forest roads in the project area. The most updated information available was used to conduct this analysis. Current road information was gathered using INFRA core data, field reconnaissance in conjunction with aerial photo interpretation, and GIS mapping. Roads in the Halfway Malin Project Area were mapped on a GIS layer, using a variety of information sources. The Situation Existing Road System Overview and Scope of Analysis The base transportation network of collectors and major local roads is well established. Currently, the project area has approximately 19 miles of existing system roads including a portion of the St. Joe River Road Forest Highway 50 and approximately 5.4 miles of system trails. This total does not include approximately 11.9 miles of roads that have already been decommissioned in the project area. The main system roads (FH50 and Bird Creek) are open to public motorized use year round (8.4 miles). Other system roads are closed year round. The scope of analysis was limited to considering if there are additional roads presenting risks and what would be the best prescription for managing those roads depending on the needs for each road. Existing Roads Information Roads in the analysis area are in a GIS spatial database. Inventories of most roads were conducted in previous summer months. The road number, name, length, and other data are detailed in Table 3. Not all of the roads in the project area were physically inventoried. Some of the road status information was derived from current Digital Ortho Quad photography, and the condition of similar inventoried roads in the area. Only roads contained within or crossing into the project area boundary are included in this list. Decommissioned roads are those that the IDT recommends are not needed to meet multiple resource objectives and would no longer be managed as part of the Forest s Transportation System. Stored roads would not be regularly maintained so their drainage structures (culverts) may be removed to lower the risk of sediment entering the stream system. As part of this process the IDT integrated a multitude of management objectives, including access needs for fire suppression, vegetation management, recreation, and effects on aquatic and wildlife resources. Abbreviations Used in Tables System Designation Level of Service Functional Class Service Life NFSR = National Forest System Road NFST = National Forest System Trail I = Flow interrupted Use limited < 400 ADT J = Slow flow or may be blocked < 400 ADT C = Collector - road that serves smaller areas than an arterial road L = Local road that connects a terminal facility with a collector road I = Intermittent Term Service IS = Intermittent Stored Service 3

4 Halfway Malin Travel Analysis Process Report C = Long Term Service S = Short Term Service Surface Type Objective Maintenance Level Objective Maintenance Level Agg = Crushed aggregate or gravel Nat = Native material 1 = Basic Custodial Care, closed more than 1 year 2 = Use by High-clearance vehicles 3 = Use by standard Passenger vehicles 4 = Moderate degree of user comfort & convenience 5 = High degree of user comfort & convenience D = Decommission C = Convert to another use like trail 1 = Basic Custodial Care, closed more than 1 year 2 = Use by High-clearance vehicles 3 = Use by standard Passenger vehicles 4 = Moderate degree of user comfort & convenience 5 = High degree of user comfort & convenience IPNF Prescription Code listed towards the end of this document 4

5 Table 1. Route Existing Status ID BEG TERMINI GIS MILES OBJ ML OPER ML 50 SH ROAD RX SYSTEM TRAV MGMT OPEN HWL CTY OPEN 50G FH OMU NFSR OPEN 50J FH OMU NFSR OPEN 50JA FH OMU NFSR OPEN 218E RD OMU NFSR OPEN 218P RD OMU NFSR OPEN 338 RD OMU NFSR OPEN 338UL B1 NOT A RD A1 NFSR RD B1 NFSR A B1 NFSR UB DE -- B1 NOT UD DE -- B1 NOT RD C1 NFSR RD A1 NFSR A RD A1 NFSR G DE -- A1 NOT RD A2 NFSR RD A1 NFSR UD DE 1 A1 NOT Trail 197 FH NFST STM, SEASONAL 5

6 Risks and Benefits Effects of the Current Road System The IDT considered the major uses and effects of the road system to generate the baseline information against which the existing and future road systems are compared. The various benefits, problems and risks of the current road system are discussed below. Benefits and Risks of the Current and Future Road Systems, by Road The analysis of the benefits and risks to natural resources was applied to the existing and proposed road system. This process was used to make recommendations for the minimum desirable long-term transportation system needed for the safe and efficient travel for administration, utilization, and protection of National Forest Lands. The proposed road system would provide efficient access for harvest systems for vegetation management in proposed treatment units. The criteria for synthesis of benefits and risks were applied to each resource for each road. The risk and benefit criteria guidelines (Tables 2 and 3) were developed by considering resources and knowledge and information from the IDT. Table 4 identifies the overall risks and benefits for each road segment as determined by the IDT. New system roads will be stored after use to reduce road maintenance costs and address water quality and wildlife habitat needs by limiting impacts to these resources. Table 2. Risk Criteria Rating Guidelines. Resource Rating Risk Criteria Guidelines Watershed 3 High High Risk - Open road with multiple stream crossings/culverts and road bed sedimentation and sedimentation from large storm drainage system 2 Medium Medium risk - open road with some stream crossings/culverts and road bed sedimentation 1 Low Low Risk - Road is stored and hydrologically inert 0 None No Risk U Unknown Uncollected data or raw data unprocessed at time of evaluation Fisheries 3 High Road/trail parallels fish-bearing stream in RHCA; fish barrier(s) associated with road/trail; beneficial habitat upstream of crossings; high road densities; high sediment source identified; T&E species present 2 Medium Road/trail crosses fish-bearing stream; partial or seasonal fish barriers assoc. w/ road/trail; moderate habitat upstream of any crossings; high road density; sediment source identified 1 Low Low risk of sediment reaching streams; marginal fish habitat upstream of crossings 0 None No Risk Wildlife/TES TES Plants U Unknown Uncollected data or raw data unprocessed at time of evaluation 3 High Open road that occurs in elk winter range. 2 Medium Open road that bisects suitable habitat for a number of species 1 Low No motorized vehicles, but still potential for people to use road and cause disturbance 0 None No risk U Unknown No data 3 High likelihood that road crosses or ends in high-potential TES plant habitat is high, known sites may occur along road or road is a main access to TES plant site. Maintaining the road for administrative access for botany program is important. 2 Medium likelihood that road crosses or ends in high-potential TES plant habitat is moderate. 1 Low likelihood that road crosses or ends in high-potential TES plant habitat is low, habitat in small amounts may be present in or near the road. The need to keep the road open is low. 0 None Does not bisect suitable habitat or known TES plant populations likelihood that road crosses or ends in high-potential TES plant habitat is extremely low; road is not needed for botany program. U - Unknown Uncollected data or raw data unprocessed at time of evaluation 6

7 Table 3. Benefit Criteria Rating Guidelines. Benefit Rating Benefit Criteria Guidelines Fire Suppression/ 3 High Accesses a value-at-risk or large geographical area. Provides a level of safety to public or fire personnel Emergency 2 Medium Provides only convenient access Access 1 Low Provides duplicate access or access to small area 0 None Not needed for fire suppression access U - Unknown No info to effectively evaluate 3 High Needed by permittee as main route for allotment access and high priority for weed treatments. Noxious Weed Treatment 2 Medium Needed for weed treatment, medium priority 1 Low Low priority for weed treatment 0 None Not used by permittees or for weed treatment U - Unknown No weed data 3 High Necessary for vegetation treatment in 1 to 10 years Vegetation/ Timber Management 2 Medium Not needed for 10 to 20 years, but leave the road prism Access 1 Low Not likely to be needed in foreseeable future 0 - None Not needed U - Unknown Uncollected data or raw data unprocessed at time of evaluation Recreation Use 3 High Negative impacts to heavily used ATV or snowmobile routes; road has high potential to promote the creation of unauthorized routes 2 Medium Road has some potential to promote the creation of unauthorized routes Right-of- Way/Special Uses/ 1 Low Road has minimum potential to promote the creation of unauthorized routes 0 None no use or no possibility for unauthorized use. U - Unknown No information with which to effectively evaluate 3 High High use (summer or winter); necessary for ROW, Special Use Permittees, Private or other ownership access, needed for minimum transportation system Other Ownership 2 Medium Some current use (often seasonal); unofficial or future planned use with no good alternative route 1 Low Closed, or low current use, or viable alternative route is available 0 None Not important for special access, or no use U - Unknown No information with which to effectively evaluate Minerals 3-High Prospecting Permit 0-None Not important for access, or no use 7

8 Table 3. Scoring Risk Need ID GIS MILES Wildlife Water Weeds Fish TES Recreation Timber/Silv Fire Remarks FH50 50G gravel pit; helispot 50J Recreation wants the front end up to the culverts 50JA Recreation wants the front end up to the culverts 218E Nugget Campground road 218P Tin Can Campground - historic CCC camp Bird Creek Road; weeds treated in A Road needed to extend future access; wildlife security; reduce road maintenance cost Ineffective barrier repaired summer 2014; flat saddle 1265A duplicate fire access; reduce road maintenance costs 1265UB currently not barriered (barrier repaired summer 2014) - ATVs were using it; continue with plans to decommission 1265UD Continue with plans to decommission; no additional work needed low risk because stored; possibly high silv need depending on Rx A determined motorcyclist could get through but there are no tracks and it is steep has road restriction sign. 1279A Low risk, low need; decommissioned 1279G Low risk, low need ATV Route with Travel Mgmt; weeds treated in 2013 & UD Total Worst weeds in the project area; Weeds treated in 2013; New gate installed 2014; high risk: built at same time as Roads 1414 & 1416 New gate on Road 1415; previously slated for decommissioning; existing condition indicates no additional work needed. 8

9 Opportunities and Recommendations The interdisciplinary team compared the risks of each road with the benefits of each road and identified recommended actions. Table 5. Recommended actions for existing roads ID GIS MILES Existing Road Management Rx Recommendation Remarks OPEN OPEN FH50; no change 50G 0.15 OPEN OPEN gravel pit; helispot; no change 50J 0.15 OPEN OPEN/D1 Recreation wants the front end up to the culvert 50JA 0.15 OPEN OPEN Outfitter & Guide uses road on both sides of the culvert 218E 0.11 OPEN OPEN Nugget Campground road 218P 0.21 OPEN OPEN Tin Can Campground - historic CCC camp OPEN OPEN Bird Creek Road 338UL 0.09 B1 D Road may be needed to extend access in the future; wildlife security; reduce road maintenance cost. 1264A 0.77 A1 C1 Ineffective barrier repaired summer 2014; flat saddle B1 B1 1265A 1.42 B1 C1 9 duplicate fire access; reduce road maintenance costs; barrier repaired summer 2014 barrier repaired summer ATVs were using it; continue with earlier plans to decommission (Eagle Bird ROD) 1265UB 0.22 B1 D continue with earlier plans to decommission (Eagle Bird ROD) 1265UD 0.27 B1 D C1 C A1 A1 risk is low because of stored condition; decommission if low need A determined motorcyclist could get through but there are no tracks (summer 2014) and it is steep has road restriction sign. 1279A 0.08 A1 D Low need, low risk; decommissioned 1279G 0.16 A1 D ATV Route with Travel Management A2 A A1 C New gate on Road UD 0.51 A1 D Trail seasonal single-track FH50 Highlighted roads indicate proposed change from existing condition. Worst weeds in the project area; New gate installed summer 2014; built at same time Rd 1414 & 1416 Previously slated for decommissioning; existing condition indicates no additional work needed to decommission

10 Road Management Prescription Codes: Open Road Management These roads are system roads available for public use, generally maintained at operational maintenance levels 2 5. Systems roads are identified in the INFRA database as roads with Route Status as Existing, Jurisdiction, and System as Forest Service. (Service Life = C, Long Term Service) Roads may be open yearlong or restricted seasonally with a gate. Open yearlong, no restrictions - mixed use allowed, analysis complete Open seasonally, no restrictions - mixed use allowed, analysis complete Open yearlong, with restrictions mixed use not allowed, highway legal vehicles only Open seasonally, with restrictions mixed use not allowed, highway legal vehicles only Management Prescription A (Rx A) These roads are generally needed for administrative purposes with public use restricted for resource concerns and/or facility protection. Roads are generally maintained in a passable condition at a level appropriate for the need of the road and may be Operational Maintenance Level 2 5. Roadbed has sufficient inslope, outslope, or drivable waterbars to facilitate good drainage. Traffic is usually controlled with a gate. Road maintenance is sufficient to protect the road investment and to see that damage to adjacent land and resources is held to a minimum. These roads will not be displayed on the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) as open roads, but may be displayed as trails. (Service Life = I, Intermittent Term) Rx A no access decision Rx A1 restricts all public motorized as a road. Administrative or permitted use only. Rx A2 designated as a trail open to OHVs < 50. These roads will show as a trail on the MVUM. Note: If a road is open to OHVs, the road is displayed on the MVUM as a trail, and it has a trail record in Infra and GIS. Management Prescription B (Rx B) These Maintenance Level 1 roads are in storage for a period of 1 to 20 years between uses but remain on the transportation system for future use as an NFSR. Traffic is usually controlled with a physical static barrier, such as an earth berm, concrete barrier, or guardrail. Temporary bridges and culverts assessed to have a higher risk of failure may be removed and the road surface may be waterbarred and seeded. These roads will not be displayed on the MVUM. (Service Life = I, Intermittent Term) Rx B no access decision Rx B1 restricts all public motorized Rx B2 designated as a trail open to OHVs < 50 (with a trail record in Infra/GIS). These roads will show as a trail on the MVUM. Management Prescription C (Rx C) These Maintenance Level 1 roads are in long-term storage with no foreseeable use anticipated for the next 20+ years, but may be needed in the future and remain on the system as NFSRs. Road should be out-sloped and have drainage structures removed with the intent to put the road into a state where it is not a sediment source and does not channel water. The road prism is left intact but in a condition that would not require maintenance. Traffic is usually controlled with a permanent barrier or by recontouring the beginning of the road (i.e. front end obliterate). Activities for these roads may include surface decompaction, culvert removal, re-establishment of stream channels, and re-vegetation within the road corridor. Roads may be stored with no action taken. (Service Life = IS, Intermittent Stored) 10

11 Rx C no access decision Rx C1 restricts all public motorized Rx C2 designated as a trail open to OHVs < 50 (with a trail record in Infra/GIS). These roads will show as a trail on the MVUM. Management Prescription D (Rx D) These roads generally have a higher potential for failure than Rx C and are not needed for future management purposes. The goal of this prescription is to eliminate the road from the system, restore site productivity, eliminate the potential of a road-related failure, and reestablish natural water infiltration and drainage patterns. Decommissioning activities may include full recontouring, partial recontouring (partial pullback of fill material), or decompaction. The amount of recontouring or partial pullback is based on site specific conditions and could range from 20 to 80 percent of the road s length. Drainage structures are removed from stream channels and adjacent slopes restored to resemble natural conditions. Objective Maintenance Level is Decommission and Route Status is changed from Existing to Decommissioned when the work is complete. Rx D1 full recontour Rx D2 partial recontour Rx D3 no recontouring; minimal disturbance, if any, is used; culverts may be removed through blasting Definitions (FSM 7705) Road. A motor vehicle route over 50 inches wide, unless designated and managed as a trail. (36CFR212.1), (FSM 7705). Trail. A route 50 inches or less in width or a route over 50 inches wide that is identified and managed as a trail (36CFR212.1). Public road. Any road or street under the jurisdiction of, and maintained by, a public authority and open to public travel (23 U.S.C. 101(a)). Forest Road or Trail. A road or trail wholly or partly within or adjacent to and serving the NFS that the Forest Service determines is necessary for the protection, administration, and utilization of the NFS and the use and development of its resources (36 CFR 212.1), (FSM 7705). National Forest System Road. A forest road other than a road which has been authorized by a legally documented right-of-way held by a state, county, or local public road authority (36 CFR 212.1), (FSM 7705). Designated Road, Trail, or Area. An NFS road, an NFS trail, or an area of NFS lands that is designated for motor vehicle use pursuant to 36 CFR on an Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) (36 CFR 212.1). Road Construction or Reconstruction. Supervising, inspecting, actual building, and incurrence of all costs incidental to the construction or reconstruction of a road. (36 CFR 212.1), (FSM 7705). Road decommissioning. Activities that result in the stabilization and restoration of unneeded roads to a more natural state (36 CFR 212.1), (FSM 7705). Road maintenance. The ongoing upkeep of a road necessary to maintain or restore the road in accordance with its road management objectives (FSM 7714); (FSM 7705). 11

12 Temporary road or trail. A road or trail necessary for emergency operations or authorized by contract, permit, lease, or other written authorization that is not a forest road or trail and that is not included in a forest transportation atlas (36 CFR 212.1). Off-highway vehicle (OHV). Any motor vehicle designed for or capable of cross-country travel on or immediately over land, water, sand, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other natural terrain (36 CFR 212.1). Unauthorized road or trail. A road or trail that is not a forest road or trail or a temporary road or trail and that is not included in a forest transportation atlas (36 CFR 212.1). Private road A road under private ownership authorized by an easement to a private party, or a road that provides access pursuant to a reserved or private right. Stored close front end (berm) and make hydrologically inert by removing any pipes and recontour steam crossings and waterbar, as needed. 12

13 Map 1: Existing Road Management Prescriptions 13

14 Map 2: Recommended Road Management Prescriptions 14