West Side Snowy Range Travel Management Notice of Proposed Action

Transcription

1 United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service March 2015 West Side Snowy Range Travel Management Notice of Proposed Action Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland Carbon County, Wyoming T14-19N R79-82W Responsible Official: Melanie Fullman District Ranger For Information Contact: Monique Nelson, Interdisciplinary Team Leader (307)

2 Disclaimer: The Forest Service uses the most current and complete data it has available. GIS data and product accuracy may vary. They may be: developed from sources of differing accuracy, accurate only at certain scales, based on modeling or interpretation, incomplete while being created or revised, have represented features not in accurate geographic locations, etc. The Forest Service makes no expressed or implied warranty, including warranty of merchantability and fitness, with respect to the character, function, or capabilities of the data or their appropriateness for any user's purposes. The Forest Service reserves the right to correct, update, modify, or replace this geospatial information based on new inventories, new or revised information, and if necessary in conjunction with other federal, state or local public agencies or the public in general as required by policy or regulation. Previous recipients of the products may not be notified unless required by policy or regulation. For more information, contact the Medicine Bow - Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland Supervisor's Office (2468 Jackson Street, Laramie, WY 82070, ). 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 of an 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, DC , or call (800) (voice) or (202) (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Cover Photo: Forest Road 261.1C, a Level 2 road in the Northwest corner of the Snowy Range. The proposed action would leave this road as-is.

3 West Side Snowy Range Travel Management Notice of Proposed Action Introduction In this Notice of Proposed Action, the Forest Service has documented a proposal for management of motorized vehicle travel on the west side of the Snowy Range Mountains (Map 1). The Forest Service expects to analyze and document the effects of the proposed Action and alternatives in an Environmental Assessment in the spring of The Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District began this travel management analysis more than a year ago. In the fall of 2013, people recreating on the west side of the Snowy Range were asked for their input and opinions about which roads are the most critical to their forest access, which roads need improvement, and where there may be opportunities for closing roads or creating new motorized routes. In December 2013, a scoping letter was sent to interested individuals and groups to gather similar information and to let forest users know that the travel management analysis was underway. The District Ranger also held meetings with and made presentations to interested parties, including several local officials. In the summers of 2013 and 2014, the Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District staff spent time verifying nearly 500 miles of routes on the ground, looking at access needs, and collecting data about natural resource benefits and concerns related to the road and motorized trail system. In addition to the Proposed Action, the Forest Service expects to develop and analyze alternatives to the Proposed Action that may better meet the needs and desires of groups and individuals that travel on the Forest. Your comments will be the primary basis for developing those alternatives. Specific comments that describe road or route locations, access needs, and solutions to perceived issues are most useful to this process. Please see pages 12 and 13 for instructions on how and when to submit comments and suggestions for how to prepare comments useful for alternative development. If you provided comments during the scoping period and your suggestions are not reflected in the Proposed Action, they will likely become a part of a different alternative; they were not ignored. This Notice of Proposed Action, maps, and other project information are available on the Forest web site at Full size printed maps of the Proposed Action are available for viewing at the following locations: Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland, Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District Highway 130, Saratoga WY Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland, Laramie Ranger District Jackson St. Laramie WY Bureau of Land Management, Rawlins Field Office North 3 rd St., Rawlins WY Carbon County Libraries, Saratoga Branch. 503 West Elm St., Saratoga WY Elk Mountain Town Hall. 206 Bridge St., Elk Mountain WY Encampment Town Hall. 614 Mccaffrey Ave, Encampment WY Rendezvous Lodge. Hwy 130 and Ryan Park Road, Ryan Park WY. Medicine Bow Conservation District. 510 Utah, Medicine Bow WY

4 Map 1. West Side Snowy Range Travel Management project vicinity. 2

5 Purpose and Need The purpose of the West Side Snowy Range Travel Management project is to identify and create a road and motorized trail system that will: Provide safe access to and through the National Forest, Be adequately marked and signed on the ground, and consistent with the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM), Provide diverse recreation opportunities, including opportunities for motorized recreation on trails designated for off-road vehicle (ORV) use only, Allow diverse non-motorized opportunities including non-motorized recreation and provision of wildlife habitat, Minimize travel and recreation impacts to the environment, and Minimize user conflicts. This project is needed because: There is increasing demand for a variety of both motorized and nonmotorized recreational opportunities on the Forest; Current maps, signage, and maintenance is inadequate on many roads and trails; Few developed ORV loop routes are available on the west side of the Snowy Range, and there are very few ORV routes on which riders younger than 16 can legally ride; Road access to existing infrastructure (fences, Forest Road 502, south of the French Creek campground, has experienced severe rutting and braiding. Portions of this Level 2 road are proposed for decommissioning. cabins, etc.) and permitted uses (e.g., ditches, reservoirs, weather stations) on the Forest has not always been designated as part of the Forests Transportation System in the past, but is necessary for access; The existing transportation system may not be compatible with the current and future uses and management designations on the Forest; Some existing roads and trails are causing negative impacts to non-motorized recreational uses, and/or terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems; The Forest Service is limited in the number of roads and trails that it can maintain within its annual operating budget; and The Forest Service is required to administer and designate roads, trails, and areas for motor vehicle use according to Federal Regulations (36 CFR Part 212, Travel Management; 36 CFR Part 295, Use of Motor Vehicles Off Forest Service Roads). 3

6 Forest Plan Direction This project is responsive to the goals, objectives, and strategies outlined in the Forest Plan 1. The project purpose, need, and proposed actions directly address Forest Plan Goals 1, 2, and 4, Subgoals 1.b, 2.a, and 4.a, and their supporting objectives and strategies. This list is only a sample, not an exhaustive list, of relevant Forest Plan direction: Goal 1 Ensure Sustainable Ecosystems Promote ecosystem health and conservation using a collaborative approach to sustain the National s forests, grasslands, and watersheds. Subgoal 1.b: Provide ecological conditions to sustain viable populations of native and desired non-native species. Strategy p. Maintain or improve security areas through vegetation management design and by decommissioning roads identified in project level analyses. Goal 2 Multiple Benefits to People Provide a variety of uses, values, products, and services for present and future generations by managing within the capability of sustainable ecosystems. Subgoal 2.a: Improve the capability of the Nation s forests and grasslands to provide diverse, high-quality outdoor recreation opportunities. Objective 3. Annually maintain or reconstruct up to 20% of National Forest trails to meet resource standards. Strategies a. Provide winter and summer non- motorized and motorized opportunities for a wide variety of uses and experiences consistent with other resource objectives. d. Where off-road and off-trail resource damage is taking place, restore and protect these areas. Goal 4 Effective Public Service Ensure the acquisition and use of an appropriate corporate infrastructure to enable the efficient delivery of a variety of uses. Subgoal 4.a: Improve safety and economy of Forest Service roads, trails, facilities, and operations, and provide greater security for public and employees. 1 USDA Forest Service Medicine Bow National Forest Revised Land and Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, Chapter 1, pages 1-2 to USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. Available at 4

7 Objectives 1. Within 15 years, maintain all roads classified for passenger vehicles to national standards. 2. Within 15 years, maintain all roads classified for high-clearance vehicle use and closed roads to national standards. 3. Within 10 years, implement Phase II of the October 16, 2000 Forest Supervisor Forest wide Travel Management Direction, which is to complete site-specific travel management analyses to decide future status of the Forest Transportation System. 4. Within 10 years, decommission at least 150 miles of designated roads that will be determined through project level analyses and approval. 7. By the end of the planning period, correct critical health and safety maintenance needs on roads identified as the potential minimum road system. Strategies a. During site level travel management analysis, identify the minimum road and trail system by considering aquatic and riparian areas and aquatic wildlife, terrestrial wildlife and the need for security areas, ecosystem processes and functions including soil protection, minerals management, range management, water production, special products, special use permits, general public transportation, administrative uses, fuel management, air quality, recreation use values, and social issues. b. Monitor for and obliterate user-created motorized roads and trails. There are nine Geographic Areas within the project analysis area 2 : Pennock Mountain, Pass Creek, Bow River, Brush Creek, Barrett, French Creek, Snowy Range Eastern Front, Upper Douglas Creek, and Platte River. There are 13 Management Areas within the project analysis area 3 : Recommended for Wilderness, Backcountry Recreation Summer Non-Motorized with Winter Snowmobiling, Special Interest Area, Research Natural Area, Backcountry Recreation Year-Round Motorized, Backcountry Recreation Summer Motorized Winter Non-Motorized, Crucial Deer and Elk Winter Range, Scenery, Forest Products, Forest Products Ecological Maintenance and Restoration, Deer and Elk Winter Range, Developed Recreation, and Administrative Site (Map 2). Existing Roads and Motorized Trails There are currently 607 miles of roads in the project area and 18 miles of motorized trail open to ORVs only (Table 1). Roads may be either open or closed to the public, and are categorized by the Forest 2 USDA Forest Service Medicine Bow National Forest Revised Land and Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, Chapter 3, pages 3-53 to USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. Available at 3 USDA Forest Service Medicine Bow National Forest Revised Land and Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, Chapter 2, pages 2-5 to USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 5

8 Service according to maintenance level. Five maintenance level designations are used to describe the accessibility, level of service provided, and maintenance requirements of Forest Service system roads 4 : Level 1: These roads are closed to motorized vehicle use, except for administrative use. In many cases, these roads were used for timber harvesting activities in the past and closed to preserve the road system for future timber management needs. When needed, closed roads may be used by livestock grazing permittees, special use permittees, and other members of the public to access grazing allotments, private in-holdings, or other privately-owned facilities on National Forest lands. Level 2: These roads are open for public use. High clearance vehicles are strongly encouraged, and some Level 2 roads may not be suitable for passenger cars. User comfort and convenience are not priorities for these roads, and some road hazards often exist. These roads are typically very low speed with native surface, highly infrequent maintenance, and stream fords instead of culverts or bridges. Level 3: These roads are open for public use. They are suitable for all vehicles, including passenger cars, although user comfort and convenience are lower priorities. These are typically low speed roads with gravel or native surface, 1 1½ lanes, and turnouts. Level 4: These roads are open for public use and suitable for passenger cars with a moderate degree of user comfort. They are usually aggregate/gravel surfaced, up to two lanes wide, and allow moderate travel speeds. Level 5: These roads are open for public use and suitable for passenger cars with a high degree of comfort. They have a smooth road surface (often paved), are almost always two lanes, and allow for high traffic volume and driving speeds. In the western Snowy Range, Level 5 roads maintained by the Forest Service are limited to paved parking areas at popular recreation sites. Table 1. Existing roads and trails in the West Side Snowy Range Travel Management Project Analysis Area. Private roads and roads managed by other entities (including Highway 130) are not included in the analysis. Current Maintenance Level Miles Level 1 (Closed to Public Use) 100 Level 2 (High Clearance Vehicles) 322 Level 3 (Suitable for Passenger Cars) 129 Level 4 (Moderate Degree of User Comfort) 65 Level 5 (High Degree of User Comfort) <1 Total Open Roads 516 Total Closed Roads 100 Motorized Trail 18 4 USDA Forest Service Guidelines for Road Maintenance Levels (7700-Transportation Management SDTDC). USDA Forest Service, National Technology and Development Program. San Dimas, CA. 6

9 Proposed Action The Proposed Action for motorized road and trail systems was developed based on comments from scoping efforts, other public interactions, and on-the-ground surveys completed by Brush Creek/Hayden District staff. The project interdisciplinary team considered authorized as well as unauthorized (user-created) routes in the preliminary analysis in order to determine if any unauthorized routes might be good additions to the road or trail systems. The Proposed Action was developed with an interdisciplinary approach in an effort to balance the needs of multiple user groups (e.g., permittees, motorized recreationists, non-motorized recreationists), and to provide adequate access and protections to Forest resources (e.g., access to timber harvest areas, protections for streams and wetlands, reduced road densities in critical winter range). Where the interests of user groups or resource management objectives conflicted, the interdisciplinary team developed the proposed action to best meet the intent of Management Area Direction 3 in the Forest Plan. Highlights of the Proposed Action New ORV-only opportunities near Campbell Lake, Troublesome Ridge/Sage Brush Park, High Rock, and Ryan Park. Forest Road 103 would be converted from a road that allows full size vehicles to an ORV-only trail to create an ORV loop opportunity near Campbell Lake. Portions of Forest Road 261 (the Cedar Pass road), which has experienced major landslides and significant, costly damage for many years, would be decommissioned. Other portions would be converted to an ORV trail between Sawmill and Red Park. Road decommissioning would decrease road densities in crucial deer and elk winter range in the northeast, northwest, and southwest corners of the analysis area. Road closures would reduce road densities near Moerke Lake. Additions of Level 1 roads to the system will allow Forest Service access to timber management areas. Conversion of open roads to closed roads in some areas will reduce maintenance costs, provide additional non-motorized recreational opportunities, and reduce resource impacts. 7

10 MAPS Maps are the best way to communicate this proposal. The following maps are available in PDF format on the Forest web site and at the locations listed on page 1 of this Notice of Proposed Action: Map 2: Proposed Action with Management Area Direction Map 3: Proposed Action with Visitor Information Map Book: A smaller format version of Map 3 Roads The proposal for National Forest System roads is summarized in Table 2 and described in detail below. All numbers are approximations and actual distances may vary slightly on the ground if implemented. A listing of each road segment and proposed action is included in Appendix A. Maps 2 and 3 and a smaller format map book display the proposal in full. Table 2. Proposed actions for National Forest System roads in the West Side Snowy Range project analysis area. Proposed Action Miles Existing Open Road (Leave as Is) 331 Existing Closed Road (Leave as Is) 64 Add to System as Open Road (Level 2) 2 Convert to Open Road (Level 2) 5 Add to System as Closed Road (Level 1) 42 Convert to Closed Road (Level 1) 82 Decommission (Remove from System) 97 Total Open Roads 337 (65% of current) Total Closed Roads 188 (188% of current) Existing Open and Closed Roads (Leave as Is): 395 Miles The majority (64%) of the road system, including Level 1 roads, and Level 2 through 5 roads described on the MVUM, would remain the same. Add to System as Open Road (Level 2): 2 Miles These are generally user-created (unauthorized) routes that would be added to the official (authorized) road system as Level 2 roads. Convert to Open Road (Level 2): 5 Miles These are generally closed, Level 1 roads that would be converted to open, Level 2 roads available for public motorized use. 8

11 Add to System as Closed Road (Level 1): 42 Miles These are generally old timber sale roads built by the Forest Service for timber harvest, then removed from the system and labeled as decommissioned. In most cases, the roads are still recognizable on the ground, though they may be grown in with vegetation or have some earth berms. They require relatively little investment to make usable for future timber management. Some segments proposed to be added as Level 1 roads are not part of past harvest activities but are well-placed user-created (unauthorized) routes. These roads would be added to the National Forest Road System as Level 1 roads that allow access for administrative uses, but would remain closed to the public. Convert to Closed Road (Level 1): 82 Miles These are generally Level 2 roads currently open to the public that would be converted to Level 1 roads and closed to the public. Many of these roads have limited public benefit and are currently receiving minimal use. Often, these are roads that experience recurring damage, are declining in condition, and are having negative effects on stream, wetland, riparian, or terrestrial ecosystems. Roads that are expected to be used infrequently, for example not until the next timber entry, may be stormproofed to reduce maintenance costs and minimize environmental damage. Stormproofing includes a variety of techniques intended to make a road impervious to storms, including removing culverts and other drainage structures. Roads may be closed by a variety of methods depending on the intended frequency and type of use. For example, gates may be installed or the start of the road may be ripped or covered over with slash, rocks, berms, or other obstacles to prevent use. Decommission (Remove from System): 97 Miles Decommissioning would occur on some roads, primarily Level 1 or Level 2 (Forest Road 261 is a Level 3 road with proposed decommissioning), where roads are duplicative, access is not anticipated for 20 years or more, or serious resource damage or other resource concerns warrant elimination of any future motorized use. The type of decommissioning would vary by road and could include ripping and slashing, recontouring the road, installation of dirt barriers, fencing, placement of debris or other obstacles to prevent use, removal of culverts and other drainage features, removal of fill material from wetlands, and restoration of stream channels at road crossings. Forest Road 261, the Cedar Pass road, has experienced severe, recurring damage. Parts of this Level 3 road are proposed for decommissioning. 9

12 Trails The proposal for motorized trails is summarized in Table 3 and described in detail below. All numbers are approximations and actual distances may vary slightly on the ground if implemented. A listing of each trail segment and proposed action is included in Appendix B. Maps 2 and 3 and a smaller format map book display the proposal in full. ORV trails are open to Type 1, 2, and 3 vehicles as described by the Wyoming State Trails Program ORV rules and regulations ( These include vehicles 50 inches or less, motorcycles, and ORVs such as side-by-sides that are approximately 60 inches wide. Motorized trails do not allow use by full-size, street-legal cars and trucks, such as 4-wheel drive vehicles and pickups, regardless of their width. Those vehicles may only be used on roads designed and designated as Maintenance Level 2 or higher (open). In all cases, travel is restricted to designated roads or trails; crosscountry travel is prohibited. Adequate parking will be provided at motorized trailheads; specific locations will be identified as part of further alternative development. Table 3. Proposed Actions for trails in the West Side Snowy Range project analysis area. Proposed Action Miles Decommission Trail (Remove from System) 1 Add to ORV Trail System 10 Convert Road to ORV Trail 35 Build New ORV Trail 1 Existing Trail (Leave as Is) 17 Total Motorized Trail 64 Decommission Trail (Remove from System): 1 Mile Although loop trail ORV-only opportunities would be added in this vicinity near Sage Brush Park, one trail segment would be decommissioned. Add to ORV Trail System: 10 Miles This action would designate several existing, currently unauthorized routes as motorized trails. In most cases, these are well-located, user-created routes that provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and would enhance the system of designated trails. In some cases, portions of these routes would need to be rerouted or reconstructed to avoid or minimize impacts to sensitive resource areas such as streams, wetlands, and riparian areas. ORV-only trails enable families with children younger than 16 years of age to ride together. Convert Road to ORV Trail: 35 Miles This action would convert roads that are currently part of the National Forest Road System into motorized trails available for ORV use only. These roads may no longer be needed for Forest management, may require technical driving skills more appropriate for ORV travel, may no longer be 10

13 passable by most full-sized vehicles due to terrain or weather conditions, or may simply enhance an ORV trail experience. Build New ORV Trail: 1 Mile While most of the new ORV trails would be converted from existing, user-created routes or Forest Service system roads, approximately 1 mile of new ORV trail would be new construction. Existing ORV Trail (Leave as Is): 17 Miles There are 18 miles of ORV trail currently in the analysis area. 17 of these would remain designated as open motorized trails. Roadless Proposals Two activities are proposed within Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs): 1. Addition of approximately 1 mile of ORV trail in the Campbell Lake IRA to complete a loop with the existing Campbell Lake ORV trail. For most of its length, the new trail will be added where an unauthorized route already exists; however, the trail will deviate from the unauthorized route to The Forest Service has worked cooperatively avoid sensitive resource areas. Motorized with the State Trails Program to harden stream recreation is consistent with the 2001 crossings and protect riparian areas along the Roadless Area Conservation Rule and is Campbell Lake Trail. The Proposed Action described in roadless characteristic #5, would add an additional mile of trail to create Primitive, semi-primitive non-motorized, ORV loop opportunities near Campbell Lake. and semi-primitive motorized classes of dispersed recreation. This trail segment is located on the east side of the project area, visible in the Map Book on Map Decommissioning of 0.5 miles of Level 2 road that extends into the French Creek IRA. Road decommissioning is an allowable activity in IRAs. This road segment is located on the south end of the project area, visible in the Map Book on Map 10. Related Activities The needs of grazing permittees and special use permittees are evaluated on a separate, caseby-case basis. Permittees can be granted access to routes that are not available to the general public. 11

14 Unauthorized (user-created) routes have been considered as part of this proposed action in order to disclose the impacts they have on natural resources, discuss options for restoration or management, and allow some well-located routes to be added to the National Forest road or trail system. The Forest Service will continue to decommission unauthorized routes in the analysis area to protect resources outside of this project analysis or decision. As always, it is illegal for a member of the public to create or use any unauthorized routes. Only those roads and trails shown in the MVUM are authorized for public use. Opportunity to Comment This Notice of Proposed Action is intended to disclose adequate information to allow the public to provide substantive comments on the project and proposed alternatives. A formal, 30-day public comment period will be initiated with a legal notice in the Rawlins Daily Times, the newspaper of record (36 CFR 218.2). This may be the only opportunity to submit comments. Those who provide timely and specific comments may be eligible to file an objection to the Environmental Assessment and Draft Decision Notice pursuant to regulations at 36 CFR Part 218. Comments can be submitted by mail, fax, over the phone, in person, or by . For objection eligibility, each individual or representative from each entity submitting timely and specific written comments must either sign the comments or verify identity upon request. The Predecisional Administrative Review Process outlining objection regulations was published in March 2013 and is documented at 36 CFR 218. Comments, names, and contact information of those who comment will be part of the public record for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, the District will not be able to send subsequent environmental documents to anonymous commenters. Written comments should be submitted to the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District, Attn: Melanie Fullman, 2171 Highway 130, PO Box 249, Saratoga, WY 82331, or fax: Oral and hand-delivered comments must be provided at the Responsible Official s office during normal business hours (8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays). Telephone comments can be submitted to the Responsible Official at Electronic comments must be submitted to comments-rm-medicine-bow-routt-brush-creekhayden@fs.fed.us in an message, or portable document format (.pdf) or Word (.docx) format. Suggestions for Commenters Commenting is a process that allows individuals, organizations, agencies, and businesses to provide input on proposed environmental decisions. Public comments can strengthen an environmental decision by providing the Forest Service with facts or perspectives that were lacking in the original proposed action. 12

15 The most useful comments suggest specific changes or additions to the proposed action or the analysis process: Let us know if you find any potential issues with the information we provide or the process we have used to produce the proposed action. Use specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and offer solutions where possible. State what you support as well as what you disagree with. Organize your comments so that they are clear, concise, and easy to follow, and please be respectful. The Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District wants to fully understand your comments and suggestions. Specific comments might address: Do you support creating new ORV-only trails that would enable families with children less than 16 years of age to ride together, but would restrict use of motorized vehicles on these trails? Why or why not? Are the proposed locations appropriate? Do you think the decrease in road densities in select areas will have a favorable impact on your user experience? Why or why not? Are the proposed locations appropriate? Are there roads that you value that are being proposed to be closed or decommissioned? Which roads are they, and why are they of value to the road system? Are there existing motorized routes that you value that are not shown on the maps and that you recommend as additions to the authorized road or trail system? Which routes are they, and why are they of value to the road system? Are there roads that you propose to close or decommission to improve your experience or reduce resource damage? Which roads are they, and what is your concern? Will the proposed action affect your recreational experience in the project area? Are there locations that you think should be treated differently? Where are they and why should the action be changed? Are there any specific roads that require additional maintenance or should be modified to improve ease of use? If so, which roads and what changes would you recommend? For More Information For more information concerning the proposal, or to receive a hard copy of the Notice of Proposed Action, please contact Monique Nelson, Environmental Coordinator, at (307) or moniquelnelson@fs.fed.us. 13