DECISION MEMO WILLOW CREEK RECREATION AREA FACILITY RESTORATION U.S. FOREST SERVICE WILLOW CREEK RESERVE RANGER DISTRICT CATRON COUNTY, NEW MEXICO

Transcription

1 DECISION MEMO WILLOW CREEK RECREATION AREA FACILITY RESTORATION U.S. FOREST SERVICE WILLOW CREEK RESERVE RANGER DISTRICT CATRON COUNTY, NEW MEXICO BACKGROUND The Willow Creek recreational area is located on the Reserve Ranger District, southeast of the village of Reserve, New Mexico and northeast of the village of Glenwood, New Mexico. This recreational area is comprised of 3 developed recreation sites (Gilita, Willow Creek and Ben Lilly campgrounds) and 2 trailheads that access the Gila Wilderness. Willow Creek and Ben Lilly Campgrounds are located downstream of a subdivision of seasonal homes located along 1.75 miles of Willow Creek. The Willow Creek recreational site and trailhead is directly adjacent to the New Mexico Game and Fish Administrative Site and the U.S. Forest Service Willow Creek Administrative Site. This area is accessed by Catron County Road 073 and is heavily utilized seasonally by subdivision homeowners, recreational users, hikers, backpackers, hunters, outfitters and multiple government agencies. This area receives considerable amounts of winter snow and is inaccessible during winter months by vehicle travel. In 2006, following the Bear wildfire, the Willow Creek Recreation Area received heavy precipitation resulting in a flood event that prevented ingress and egress to the Willow Creek and Gilita Creek Campgrounds. As a result recreational use has impacted the Willow Creek riparian area. Due to increased use and lack of feasible area to provide for the current and future use of this recreational area for the public, it is necessary to improve facilities to mitigate impacts within the Willow and Gilita Creek system while providing recreational use and access to the Gila Wilderness. PROPOSED ACTION Removal and replacement of restrooms: This activity will be executed in an effort to reduce potential human waste contamination and associated human activity to the riparian areas within Willow Creek and Gilita Creek by replacing/relocating restrooms away from Willow Creek and Gilita Creek riparian habitats. Two existing vaulted restrooms, that do not meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requirements, located on the east side of Willow Creek and north side of Gilita Creek will Page 1 of 5

2 be removed with heavy equipment. Two new vaulted toilets, meeting ADA requirements, will be installed by relocating these facilities on the west side of Willow Creek adjacent to the NMG&F cabin and on the north side of Willow Creek within the Gilita Campground. Heavy equipment will be utilized to remove and install toilet facilities. Parking and Camping designation: The area located east of Willow Creek will be utilized as an overflow camping and parking area. Only pass-through equine use will be permitted. This area will remain closed until District Personnel deem necessary to utilize for overflow camping and parking use. This limited use will mitigate impacts to the riparian area above the confluence of Little Turkey Creek and Willow Creek. Low Water Crossing: A low water crossing will be installed providing access to the area east of Willow Creek that is identified as an overflow camping and parking area. The low water crossing will be installed enhancing the integrity of the existing Willow Creek crossing, improving water quality, aquatic habitat and reducing its sediment contribution to the stream. The project will include the installation of precast, steel reinforced concrete planks to provide a hardened driving surface while avoiding fresh concrete work in the stream environment. The precast planks are 14 long 14 wide and 6 thick and will be bolted together with iron flanges to maintain a spacing of 2 inches. A bedding surface for the structure will be prepared by smoothing the channel bottom, installing a filter cloth, and spreading a base layer of gravel. The plank structure will then be placed on top. A native rock weir will be constructed approx. 30 feet downstream to mitigate flow disturbance and channel erosion from the crossing as depicted in the attached illustrations. The structure will provide a hardened driving surface at the crossing and therefore reduce continual sediment contribution to this perennial stream. Equine Corral, Parking and Camping Area: Equine corral, parking and camping area will be constructed west of Willow Creek and east of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish cabin within the open area between Catron County Road 073 and the northern slope (approximately 10 acres). Parking and camping will be permitted in the same vicinity. The parking and camping area may be further developed with structures not limited to graveled parking surfaces, picnic tables and fire rings. Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) cement structures in the nearby area will be protected from motorized vehicle activity by placement of large boulders. The corrals will provide recreational equine users a place to temporarily hold livestock. This location will be an alternative to the historically utilized riparian corridor on the east side of Willow Creek. The corrals will be constructed with metal material and provide multiple individual pens. Non-potable water will be provided at the corrals for livestock only. Water well and water system: A well and water system will be developed. This well will be drilled by a licensed New Mexico well driller on the west side of Willow Creek, outside the riparian corridor, when necessary water rights and permits are acquired. The well will provide water to the Willow Creek Administrative Site and to the New Mexico Game and Fish Cabin Site. The well will also provide non-potable water to the new livestock corral for livestock use. The water system will consist of buried pipeline and an above ground water storage facility. This system will be incorporated into the existing water system including underground pipelines, storage and existing well. Page 2 of 5

3 This action is categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement (EIS) or an environmental assessment (EA). The applicable categories of actions are identified in agency procedures as; (1) Repair and Maintenance of Recreation Sites and Facilities, 36 CFR 220.6(d)(5) as described in FSH Sec and (2) Modification or Maintenance of Stream or Lake Aquatic Habitat Improvement Structures Using Native Materials or Normal Practices, 36 CFR 220.6(e)(7) as described in FSH Sec These categories of actions are applicable to the Willow Creek Recreational Area Facility Restoration project described above and the anticipated activities associated with the repair and maintenance of recreational facilities and low water crossing on the Reserve Ranger District. I find that there are no extraordinary circumstances that would warrant further analysis and documentation in an EA or EIS. I took into account resource conditions identified in agency procedures that should be considered in determining whether extraordinary circumstances might exist: Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species- A Biological Assessment/Evaluation (BAE) was prepared on September 24, 2010 by Justin Schofer, Reserve Ranger District Biologist. The BAE determined that the Willow Creek Recreation Area, Facility Restoration Project will have a No Effect to the following species; Southwestern willow flycatcher and Designated Critical Habitat, Least tern, Gila chub, Gila trout, Mexican spotted owl and Designated Critical Habitat, Spikedace and Designated Critical Habitat, Loach minnow and Designated Critical Habitat, Zuni fleabane, Chiricahua leopard frog, Mexican gray wolf, Western yellow-billed cuckoo, Headwater chub, Gila springsnail, New Mexico hot springsnail Flood plains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds There is no uncertainty to the benefit and effects of this project to the Willow Creek Riparian Area are such that it is considered not significant. Congressionally designated areas such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas Congressionally designated areas such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas are not present in the project area. Inventoried roadless areas or potential wilderness areas Inventoried roadless areas or potential wilderness areas are not present in the project area. Research natural areas Research natural areas are not present in the project area. American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites are not present in the project area. Cultural resource surveys were completed on August 2, One previously recorded site was updated and three new sites were recorded. A cultural report (R ) was prepared for this project on November 26, 2010 by Jeanne Schofer, Gila National Forest North Zone Archeologist and updated with cultural report R A by detailed Gila National Forest North Zone Archeologist Erin Knolls on April 29, New Mexico State Historic Preservation Office concurrence is required for this project per the Region 3 Programmatic Agreement. Page 3 of 5

4 SHPO concurrence was received on February 2, Activity associated with this project was designed to avoid any impacts to National Register eligible or unevaluated sites within the area. Public Involvement This action was originally listed as a proposal on the Gila National Forest Schedule of Proposed Actions and updated periodically during the analysis. The Reserve Ranger District coordinated two site visits in May and June 2010 for the Willow Creek Recreational Area, Facility Restoration Project with interested personnel including; New Mexico Game and Fish, New Mexico Environment Department, Gila National Forest Fisheries Biologist, Gila National Forest Soil Scientist, Gila National Forest Hydrologist and Gila National Forest Engineer. The site visits also included Reserve Ranger District Staff including; District Biologist, District Archeologist, District Fire Management Officer, District Assistant Fire Management Officer, District Range Staff/Recreation Staff and District Ranger. The Willow Creek Recreational Area project proposal scoping letter was mailed on September 23, 2010 to 58 state, Federal, Tribal governments, non-government organizations, adjacent land owners and individuals as well as 94 Gila National Forest Outfitter Guides. FINDINGS REQUIRED BY OTHER LAWS AND REGULATIONS The project was designed in conformance with 1986 Gila National Forest Land Management Plan and Resource Management Plan as revised.. ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW (APPEAL) OPPORTUNITIES My decision is not subject to administrative appeal pursuant to 36 CFR (d)(5) and 36 CFR 220.6(e)(7); Decisions for actions that have been categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement in FSH , Section 31.1 and 31.2, except as noted in {215.7(b)}. IMPLEMENTATION DATE Implementation of this project may take place immediately upon my issuance of this decision. Page 4 of 5

5 CONTACT For additional information concerning this decision, contact: Aaron C. Baldridge Reserve Ranger District District Recreation/Range Staff P.O. Box 170 Reserve, NM John D. Pierson 4/28/2011 John D. Pierson 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 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, D.C , or call (800) (voice) or (202) (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Page 5 of 5