Decision Memo. Wolf Creek Ski Area Summer Projects

Transcription

1 Decision Memo Wolf Creek Ski Area Summer Projects USDA Forest Service Rio Grande National Forest Divide Ranger District Mineral County, Colorado T.37N., R.2E., Sections: 7,8,9 New Mexico PM Background As part of the approved Wolf Creek Ski Area Master Development Plan, a number of projects are identified for future development. Wolf Creek Ski Area has identifed four projects that they would like to initate construction on in These projects include: 1. Rebuilding the Charisma Run Race Hutch. The rebuilt building would be 18 feet by 20 feet near the current location. 2. lnstalltion of a 500,000 gallon water tank near the Powder Puff Ski Trail. The tank would be partially buried and similar to.the tank near the Legs Ski Trail. 3. lnstalltion of the new Elma Lift with a bottom terminal located near the bottom terminal of the Alberta Lift. The upper terminal would be 500 yards from the base area on the Navajo Ski Trail. 4. Replacement of the Upper Lodge deck and stairs; improvements to the Sports Center. The Boarder Dome will be relocated. There is one Forest Plan management area prescriptions within the project area: Management Area Prescription Acres Percent of Area Ski-Based Resorts 1, % Total acres 1, % Purpose and Need for the Projects 1) Charisma Race Hutch: The existing Race Hutch is not large enough to house the equipment necessary to host "fun races," and is in a state of disrepair. The current race hutch located near the bottom of the Charisma trail will be replaced and upgraded to house the race equipment, fencing, signs, and speaker system used during the fun races which are hosted every other week during the ski season. The new building will be approximately 18 feet by 20 feet and located below the current Race Hutch location. 2) 500,000 Gallon Water Tank: While Wolf Creek Ski Area relies primarily on natural snowfall, there are times during the early season or years of light snowfall where snowmaking is used to supplement natural snowfall on select trails. These trails are generally well-covered but have areas of minimal snow coverage that prevent the trails to be opened. A new 500,000-gallon steel water tank will be built in the flat area near the intersection of Turnpike and Powder Puff trails. Water pipes will be buried under

2 existing summer maintenance roads. This tank will support the base area infrastructure and snowmaking operations, as well as firefighting. 3) Elma lift: The Elma Lift will provide skiers a way to get back to the base area from the bottom of the Alberta lift and eliminate the long lift ride and traverse across the mountain from Park Avenue to the base area. During times of avalanche hazard reduction when the Alberta Lift opens later than the other lifts, the Elma Lift will allow the public to return to the Treasure Lift and the lower Waterfall Area while waiting for the Alberta Lift to open. The Elma lift will not increase skier capacity. The Elma Lift will be a fixed-grip, triple chairlift that will use the re-engineered equipment from the Treasure Lift. The Elma lift will be approximately 2,400 feet in length, with the bottom terminal located near the existing bottom terminal of the Alberta Lift, and topping out where Flim Flam branches off Navajo Trail. Approximately 1200 feet or the upper section of the lift is located on U.S. Forest Service land. The lower 1200 feet of the lift is located on private land. One tower pad near the bottom terminal is located in a wetland area on private land. 4) The Sports Center Upgrade/Remodel includes an expansion of the existing facility into a two-story building. The current Boarder Dome, a roughly 650 square feet vinyl building erected as a temporary structure will be eliminated. The Boarder Dome functions will be incorporated into the remodel/enlargement of the Sports Center facility. The outdated (26 years old) deck/barbeque area on the Upper/Main Lodge will be replaced, as well as the staircase. This project is to be completed in two phases. The first phase includes the construction of the foundation and lower storage area in the Sports Center, along with rebuilding the stairs and the east deck of the Upper/Main Lodge. The second phase includes building the second floor of the Sports Center. The square footage for the project: 3,888 sq. ft. for the new upper level of the Rental Shop and Sports Center, 530 sq. ft. for the new Exit Lobby at the existing Rental Building, 2,800 sq. ft. for the new deck addition and 4,250 sq. ft. of basement storage. Decision Within the approximate areas shown on the attached map, I have decided to implement the following activities: 1. Rebuild the Charisma Race Hutch. The 20' by 18' foot structure will be constructed of colored concrete and cause approximately 1/10 acre of ground disturbance. 2. Install a 500,000 gallon water tank near the intersection of Turnpike and Powder Puff Trails. This tank would be partially buried and cause approximately 1/3 acre of ground disturbance. 3. Install the new Elm a Lift. Approximately 3/4 acre of trees along the lift cooridor will be cut and removed. The top terminal, tower pads, and temporary access routes for construction equipment would cause approximately 1/2 acre of ground distiburbance. 4. Replace the Upper Lodge deck and stairs, and make improvements to the Sports Center. This project is located on a previously disturbed area. Wolf Creek Ski Area will submit construction plans to the District for review and approval before construction begins on any of these projects. Less than two acres of previously undisturbed area will be impacted by these projects on public land. There will be no road construction involved. Vehicle access to the areas will be from existing roads

3 Implementation of this decision will include the following Project Design Criteria: Biological/Physical Resources../ Ski Area Best Management Practices will be used during all phases of the projects.../ The landscape architect will review the design and color schemes used for the projects to ensure applicable Forest Standards and Guidelines are followed.../ Install weed-free straw bales, wattles or silt fence barriers to prevent sedimentation from entering streams or wetlands.../ Existing snags and large diameter (greater than 1 0" diameter) coarse woody debris will be protected to the extent feasible, especially snags with cavities.../ Stumps will be cut to less than 1 foot in the projects areas.../ Trees with raptor nests will be reported to the District Wildlife Biologist; nest trees will be protected from from cutting or burning.../ Rehabilitate any disturbed areas before project completion (outslope, waterbar, seed, add slash and/or weed-free mulch).../ Range Management personnel will monitor the areas for 3 years to detect any spreading of noxious weed populations.../ Report any lynx, boreal owl, goshawk, olive-sided flycatcher, ptarmigan or marten sightings during project implementation to the District. Operations../ All improvements including fences and water or spring developments will be protected from damage during thinning and burning operations. If any damage occurs, the improvement will be repaired or replaced, as appropriate.../ Any equipment driven or used off main roads will be washed to reduce the potential spread of noxious weeds. Reaso.ns for Categorically Excluding the Proposed Action These activities fall under Category 3 (36 CFR 220.6(e) (3)): Approval, modification, or continuation of minor special uses of NFS lands that require less than five contiguous acres of land. (FSH , Section 32.3). As documented in the Project Record, this action was evaluated for the presence of and any effects on extraordinary circumstances. Extraordinary circumstances evaluated include: Extraordinary Circumstances 1) Federally listed/proposed T&E species or designated critical habitat, or FS sensitive species: Evaluation No sensitive plant species were located within the project area. The potential habitat is marginal for Botrychium lineare. Overall No Effect I No Impact. BA/BE Report for Plants completed on August 19, The BA/BE for wildlife was completed on August 7, 2013 (may effect but not likely to adversely affect Canada Lynx).

4 Extraordinary Circumstances 2) Floodplains, wetlands, or municipal watershed 3) Congressionally designated areas such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, national recreation areas: 4) Inventoried Roadless Areas or potential wilderness areas: 5) Research Natural Areas 6) American Indian religious or cultural sites 7) Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas Evaluation None present on Federal land. Wetland located in project area on private land. Private landowner will obtain permit from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prior to construction of Elma lift. Determination of No Historic Properties Affected was completed on July 30, All eligible sites will be avoided. No Effect is expected on the T & E species including southwest willow flycatcher, Uncompahgre fritillary butterfly, Mexican Spotted Owl, wolverine (proposed), gunnison sage grouse (proposed). Determination may affect, but not likely to adversely affect the Canada Lynx. Several R2 sensitive species and Neotropical Migratory birds may have habitat in the project area, but the activities proposed will have no impact and are not likely to result in a loss of viability in the area (Biological Evaluation; Resident and NTM landbirds). Based on past experience, the effects of implementing these activities will be of limited context and intensity and will have little or no effect on the physical or biological components of the environment. Since no adverse impacts are expected, this action can be categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement or an environmental assessment. Findings Required by Other Laws Forest Plan My decision will comply with all applicable laws and regulations. The actions in this project are consistent with the Rio Grande National Forest Land Resource Management Plan (RGNFLRMP) and FEIS (1996), as amended. This decision is consistent with Forest-wide Objectives (RGNFLRMP 11-1 to 11-6) and Management Area Prescriptions for 8.22 (Ski Based-Resorts). All applicable Standard and Guidelines will be met (RGNFLRMP to ). National Historic Preservation Act/Section 106 Compliance Pre-field review and field surveys for cultural resources were completed by the Public Lands Center archaeology staff during the summer of No eligible sites were identified and a finding of No Historic Properties Affected for this project was received on July 30, Clean Air Act A site specific burn plan will be prepared for this project which will include smoke management requirements. The plan will describe appropriate weather conditions for burning in order to maintain air quality

5 Public Involvement Public seeping was initiated for this project in and has included listing of the original proposed project in the quarterly Schedule of Proposed Actions since then. An initial legal notice was also published in the Valley Courier on May 23, No comments were received during this 30-day comment period. One comment, in support of the projects, was received after the 30 day comment period. Administrative Review or Appeal Opportunities Since no comments were received on this project during the legal seeping opportunities, this project is not subject to appeal (36 CFR (e)(1)). One comment in support of the projects was received after the official seeping period. Implementation Implementation of the proposed activities may begin immediately. Contact Person For additional information concerning this project, contact Steve Brigham, , Divide Ranger District, Rio Grande National Forest. Acting District Ranger Divide Ranger District Rio Grande National Forest

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