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Ely District Cave Management Plan and Environmental Assessment

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Ely District Cave Management Plan and Environmental Assessment Ely District Cave Management Plan and Environmental Assessment U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Ely District Office October 15, 2015 i This page is intentionally left blank. ii Table of Contents PART 1: CAVE MANAGEMENT PLAN .................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND ............................................................. 1 1.1 Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Conformance ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Definitions ....................................................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Location and Setting ....................................................................................................................... 6 1.5 Formation of Caves ........................................................................................................................ 6 1.6 Cave Resources on the District ....................................................................................................... 8 1.7 Caves on the District ..................................................................................................................... 10 1.8 Significant Caves .......................................................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER 2: MANAGEMENT DIRECTION AND OBJECTIVES ................................... 18 2.1 Objectives ...................................................................................................................................... 18 CHAPTER 3: PLANNED MANAGEMENT ACTIONS ........................................................ 20 3.1 Cave Inventory .............................................................................................................................. 21 3.2 Surface Cave Management ........................................................................................................... 21 3.3 Resource Monitoring .................................................................................................................... 25 3.4 Visitor Use .................................................................................................................................... 28 3.5 Visitor Use Management............................................................................................................... 29 3.6 Safety ............................................................................................................................................. 34 3.7 Interpretation and Education ........................................................................................................ 37 3.8 Restoration .................................................................................................................................... 38 3.9 Cave Research and Collection ...................................................................................................... 41 3.10 Cave Exploration ........................................................................................................................ 42 3.11 Partnerships and Volunteers....................................................................................................... 43 3.12 White-Nose Syndrome ................................................................................................................. 44 3.13 Special Designations ................................................................................................................... 46 PART 2: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ...................................................................... 48 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ...................................................... 49 1.1 Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action .................................................................................. 49 1.2 Conformance ................................................................................................................................. 49 1.3 Decisions to be Made .................................................................................................................... 51 CHAPTER 2: DESCRIPTIONS OF ALTERNATIVES ........................................................ 53 2.1 Alternative A – No Action Alternative .......................................................................................... 53 2.2 Alternative B – Proposed Action ................................................................................................... 53 i CHAPTER 3: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ..................................................................................................................... 57 3.1 Resources/Concerns Considered for Analysis .............................................................................. 57 CHAPTER 4: CUMULATIVE IMPACTS .............................................................................. 76 4.1 Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions ........................................................ 76 4.2 Cumulative Impacts Analysis ........................................................................................................ 77 CHAPTER 5: CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION .................................................. 80 CHAPTER 6: REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 81 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................. 83 ii PART 1: CAVE MANAGEMENT PLAN CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND 1.1 PURPOSE AND NEED Caves are an invaluable and irreplaceable part of the Nation’s natural heritage. Biological, cultural, scientific, educational, and recreational resources are all affected by management of caves. Cave resource management is necessary to ensure long-term protection and conservation of these fragile resources while accommodating uses such as scientific research and discovery as well as quality recreational caving experiences. The purpose of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Ely District Office (EYDO) Cave Management Plan (Plan) is to provide guidance for cave management and provide for recreation within caves across the Ely District (District) (refer to Map 1), while ensuring protection of cave resources. This Plan will establish direction for long-term management, planning, and oversight of the cave resources and identify specific management actions for recreational use, scientific research, and management of cave resources. A cave management plan is needed to establish district policy for multiple-use management practices regarding caves and cave-related resources. This Plan will provide a framework for cave resource management to preserve the delicate balance between natural, undisturbed ecosystems within caves, recreational caving, scientific research, and surface uses above caves. This Plan will also establish guidance for consistency in cave protection, recreational use, internal cave file development and management, while identifying priorities and emergency action protocols inherent in managing cave resources. 1.2 CONFORMANCE 1.2.1 Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988 The BLM is directed by the Congress to manage Federal lands "in a manner which protects and maintains, to the extent practical, significant caves." (Federal Caves Resource Protection Act (FCRPA), 1988, Section 2 (c)). The FCRPA was the first federal legislation to recognize caves and their contents as whole integrated ecosystems. The FCRPA and the Department of Interior implementing regulations, 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 37, are included as appendices. The FCRPA declares that: 1) significant caves on Federal lands are an invaluable and irreplaceable part of the Nation's natural heritage; and 2) in some instances, these significant caves are threatened due to improper use, increased recreational demand, urban spread, and a lack of specific statutory protection (Section 2 (a)). 1 MAP 1- ELY DISTRICT 2 The purposes of the Act are: 1) to secure, protect and preserve significant caves on Federal lands for the perpetual use, enjoyment, and benefit of all people; and 2) to foster increased cooperation and exchange of information between governmental authorities and those who utilize caves located on Federal lands for scientific, education, or recreational purposes (Section 2 (b)). The Department of Interior implementation regulations, 43 CFR Part 37.2, for the FCRPA states: “It is the policy of the Secretary that Federal lands be managed in a manner which, to the extent practical, protects and maintains significant caves and cave resources.” 1.2.2 Conformance with Existing Laws and Regulations: The following laws, manuals, and handbooks direct Federal agencies to secure, protect, and preserve significant caves and the resources contained therein, while managing them for the perpetual use, enjoyment, and benefit of all for generations to come. Antiquities Act of 1906, Public Law (P.L.) 59-209 34 Stat. 225 (16 United States Code (U.S.C.) §§ 431- 433). Wilderness Act of 1964, P.L. 88-577 (16 U.S. C. §§ 1131-1136, September 3, 1964, as amended 1978). Title 54 U.S.C.
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