Mt. Ashland Ski Area Expansion
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CHAPTER III AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT CHAPTER III - AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT A. CHANGES BETWEEN DRAFT AND FINAL Minor edits were completed throughout this chapter to provide clarification of information previously presented. Clarification was provided, based on public and Agency comments to the July 2003 DEIS, as necessary. In the Physical Environment Section: Clarification of objectives, timing and methodology of snow measurements was provided. The sub-section previously entitled “Global Warming” was revised to discuss climate change and the relationship of this situation to snowfall and ski area expansion, based on additional consultation with a local climatologist. The section on soil processes, erosion and sedimentation was extensively re-written to reflect new modeling using the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model, based on additional consultation with a soil scientist familiar with this area and granitic based soils. The historical soil disturbance section and estimated sediment yield rates sections were revised. The watershed resources sub-section was edited for clarification and accuracy, based on further detailed review by the Forest Hydrologist. The discussion on flow regime was revised and clarified. The discussion on the Aquatic Conservation Strategy (ACS) was revised based on the 2004 Record of Decision for Clarification of Language in the 1994 Record of Decision for the Northwest Forest Plan “Proposal To Amend Wording About The Aquatic Conservation Strategy.” In the cumulative effects analysis for the Draft EIS, the Cumulative Watershed Effects (CWE) method was compared with results from the Equivalent Roaded Area (ERA) Methodology. Based on the DEIS analysis, the two models yielded similar results for the Upper Ashland Creek Watershed Scale analysis area. For the FEIS, only the ERA Methodology is used to assess past, current, and future activities. Since the DEIS, the Ashland Forest Resiliency project has been proposed that would affect areas within the Upper Ashland Watershed and the Upper Neil Creek watershed; this project is included in the cumulative watershed efffects analysis. In the Biological Environment Section: The botanical and terrestrial wildlife sub-sections were revised to reflect the 2004 Record of Decision Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement To Remove or Modify the Survey and Manage Mitigation Measure Standards and Guidelines. For the Forest Service, the decision to abolish the Survey and Manage (S&M) Standards and Guidelines results in eligible species being managed under the Forest Service Sensitive species program. Relevant botanical sub-sections were revised to reflect new information, specifically the discovery of whitebark pine and the reported presence of Cascade parsley fern in the Special Use Permit area. A fire risk and hazard section was added to described current conditions associated with SUP and surrounding areas. Final EIS III - 1 Mt. Ashland Ski Area Expansion In the Human Environment Section: The status of the Roadless Conservation rule was updated. Data provided by Jackson County was used to update the information regarding the Mt. Ashland Access road (County road 1151). Data from the last two operating seasons was used to update skier use and parking lot capacity information. Skier visitation information was expanded based on public comment. The skiable area information for MASA was clarified. Information regarding snow tubing facilities in the Pacific Northwest supplements previous information. B. INTRODUCTION This chapter presents a synopsis of the physical, biological, and human social and economic environment that may be affected by implementation of the Proposed Action or alternatives, including the No-Action Alternative. It presents the current condition within and around the current Special Use Permit (SUP) area boundary. a. Geographic Sub-Areas Within Special Use Permit Area Within the overall 960-acre SUP area, there are three somewhat distinct sub-areas that logically correspond to geographic locations of potential expansion activities, and are associated with the Alternatives Considered in Detail. In this analysis, reference is made to these three areas in order to provide clarity of geographic reference. These areas are described as follows and are portrayed on Map III-1: • The “current facility”, or the area within the central and southern portion of the (SUP) area where ski area developments currently exist (see Map I-1 and Map II-1); this area is primarily associated with Alternatives 1 (No-Action), and Alternative 5. • The “Middle Fork” area, or the area associated with the northwest portion of the Special Use Permit area and the Middle Fork of the East Fork of Ashland Creek; this area is primarily associated with Alternatives 2, 3 and 6 (which include proposed Chairlift LC-6). • The “Knoll” area, or the area in and around the northeast portion of the Special Use Permit area associated with the geographic feature known as the Knoll; this area is primarily associated with Alternative 4. The focus of resource descriptions in this Chapter is on the SUP area, and these sub-areas where developmental activities are proposed to occur, i.e., the area where ski lifts, runs and associated facilities would be located. Final EIS III - 2 Mt. Ashland Ski Area Expansion MAP III-1. Geographic Sub-Areas Within Special Use Permit Area b. Analysis Areas “Analysis areas” are also described in this Chapter and in Chapter IV where appropriate to define current conditions or the area of potential effect at the appropriate scale. These scales are not always the same between resource areas and may be a portion of the area, or a larger scale that extends beyond the SUP area; examples include hydrology (Site Scale and Watershed Scale Analysis areas), wildlife (species presence and range, or habitat types), or social-economic areas (where people recreate, viewed landscapes), etc. The affected environment or current condition of the SUP area (i.e., the No-Action Alternative) sets the environmental baseline for comparing the effects of all of the Action Alternatives. Topics are generally presented and discussed in a similar order in Chapters III and IV of this Final EIS, in order to provide a logical format for reference and comparison. C. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT Located in the Siskiyou Mountain Range, approximately 7 air miles south of the City of Ashland, the Mt. Ashland Ski Area (MASA) occupies the highest peak of the Siskiyou Range in Oregon and California. The current MASA facilities lie primarily on the ridgeline and within the Ashland Creek Watershed, generally facing North and East. 1. Climate The climate associated with the SUP area and general vicinity is characterized by mild wet winters and hot dry summers. Precipitation ranges from 40 to 60 inches annually. The elevation of the SUP area ranges from an approximate minimum of 5,600 feet, to a maximum of 7,532 feet at the summit of Mt. Ashland. Final EIS III - 3 Mt. Ashland Ski Area Expansion At these elevations, winter precipitation occurs primarily as snow. The SUP area is located above elevation bands typically affected by “rain-on-snow” events. Rain-on-snow events typically occur at 3,500 to 5,000 feet in elevation, and are characterized by rapid snowmelt triggered by rain (Bear Watershed Analysis)(USDA RRNF FS 1995). Summer thunderstorms are common, often bringing high intensity short-duration rain or hail to localized areas. Maximum precipitation rates can vary from 1 to 2 inches per hour. a. Snowfall Snowfall amounts in mountain ranges throughout the world are highly variable from year to year; Mt. Ashland is no exception. Forest Service and MAA personnel have determined annual snow depths within the existing ski area and overall SUP area. Data is based on observations and measurements from three Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) snow courses located within one air mile of the ski area (Ski Bowl Road, Mt. Ashland Switchback, and Caliban II), from MAA records, and from one NRCS SNOTEL (for SNOwpack TELemetry) site located about eight miles west of Mt. Ashland. NRCS Snow Course Data Snow courses in Mt. Ashland’s immediate vicinity (in existence since the mid 1960s) are measured within the last five days of each month from January through late April. The Ski Bowl Road snow course site is located about one mile southeast of the Base Lodge near Forest Road 2080. The Mt. Ashland Switchback site is located on the north side of the Knoll and is adjacent to the MASA wastewater drainfield. The Caliban II site is located immediately below Upper Rodger’s Way ski run. The snow course system evolved from NRCS's Congressional mandate in the mid-1930s to measure snowpack in the mountains of the West and forecast the water supply. (Manual snow courses have been supplemented with automated SNOTEL sites since the late 1980s.) The major reason for the snow survey program, with its extensive data collection network throughout the West, has always been the forecasts of annual streamflow volume at specific points along a river system. Early season measurements are not useful in predicting streamflow because the snowpack has only begun to develop, typically reaching its maximum water content in March at the three Mt. Ashland sites. The FEIS makes use of available data that was generated for a different purpose than to measure early season snowpack. This data was supplemented in the DEIS with early season data that was available from MAA records. Table-III-1 shows the average snow depth at the end of each month (January through late April), from 1970 to 2002. Table III-1. Average Snow Depth 1970-2002 Snow Course Elevation January February March April Ski Bowl Road 6,000 54 68 69 52 Mt. Ashland Switchback 6,500 66 83 87 77 Caliban II 6,500 61 76 80 74 Source: Ashland Ranger District Snow Survey Files (updated averages as of Nov 2002) The following charts (Figure III-1) show the actual snowfall (and trends) for these three snow courses during the months of January through April, from 1970-2002.