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Environmental Assessment Snowbird Gad Valley Improvements

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Environmental Assessment Snowbird Gad Valley Improvements Environmental Assessment Snowbird Gad Valley United States Department of Improvements Agriculture Salt Lake County, Utah U.S. Forest Salt Lake Ranger District, Service Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest March 2013 Prepared with the assistance of: Cirrus Ecological Solutions, LC Logan, UT For Information Contact: Steve Scheid 6944 South 3000 East Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 [email protected] (801) 733-2689 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) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Environmental Assessment: Snowbird Gad Valley Improvements TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................. i List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... v List of Figures ............................................................................................................................. vi Chapter 1: Purpose and Need .......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Organization of Document .................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Proposed Action .................................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Purpose and Need .................................................................................................................. 4 1.5 Decisions to be Made ............................................................................................................ 6 1.6 Planning Guidance ................................................................................................................. 6 1.6.1 Forest Plan ...................................................................................................................... 6 1.6.2 Other Planning Guidance ............................................................................................... 7 1.6.2.1 Wasatch Canyons Master Plan ................................................................................ 7 1.6.2.2 Salt Lake City Watershed Management Plan .......................................................... 8 1.6.2.3 Salt Lake County Foothills and Canyons Overlay Zone ......................................... 8 1.6.2.4 Salt Lake City Title 17, Chapter 17.04, Watershed Areas ....................................... 9 1.6.2.5 Salt Lake Valley Health Department Regulations ................................................... 9 1.6.2.6 Snowbird Base Area Master Plan ............................................................................ 9 1.7 Scoping and Identification of Issues .................................................................................... 10 1.7.1 Issues to be Analyzed in Depth .................................................................................... 11 1.7.1.1 Watershed Resources............................................................................................. 11 1.7.1.2 Vegetation ............................................................................................................. 11 1.7.1.3 Wildlife .................................................................................................................. 11 1.7.1.4 Recreation .............................................................................................................. 11 1.7.1.5 Heritage Resources ................................................................................................ 12 1.7.1.6 Scenic Integrity ...................................................................................................... 12 1.7.1.7 Transportation ....................................................................................................... 12 1.7.2 Issues Considered but Not Analyzed in Depth ............................................................. 12 1.7.2.1 Air Quality ............................................................................................................. 13 1.7.2.2 Watershed Resources............................................................................................. 13 1.7.2.3 Transportation ....................................................................................................... 13 1.7.2.4 Utilities .................................................................................................................. 14 1.8 Required Permits and Authorizations .................................................................................. 15 Chapter 2: Proposed Action and Alternatives ............................................................................... 17 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 17 2.2 Alternative 1 - Proposed Action .......................................................................................... 17 2.2.1 Beginner Skiing Area ................................................................................................... 17 2.2.2 Base Area Conveyor Lift .............................................................................................. 21 2.2.3 Baby Thunder Yurt ....................................................................................................... 21 2.2.4 Night Skiing on Gadzoom ............................................................................................ 21 2.2.5 Lift Maintenance Shop and Office Relocation ............................................................. 22 i Environmental Assessment: Snowbird Gad Valley Improvements 2.2.6 Creekside Lodge Adaptive Sports Expansion .............................................................. 22 2.2.7 Mountain Bike Trails .................................................................................................... 23 2.2.8 Relocation of Lunch Run Summer Road ...................................................................... 23 2.2.9 Remodel of Mid Gad Restaurant .................................................................................. 23 2.2.10 Gad 2 Upgrade............................................................................................................ 23 2.2.11 Bananas Trail Modification ........................................................................................ 24 2.2.12 Gad 2–Little Cloud Connector Trail ........................................................................... 24 2.3 Alternative Formulation ...................................................................................................... 24 2.4 Alternatives Considered but Not Analyzed in Depth .......................................................... 25 2.4.1 Provision of Parking at the Baby Thunder Beginner Area ........................................... 25 2.5 Alternatives Analyzed in Depth .......................................................................................... 26 2.5.1 Alternative 2 – No Action ............................................................................................ 26 2.5.1.1 Snowmaking (area wide) ....................................................................................... 26 2.5.1.2 Cat Staging Area (Alt E) ....................................................................................... 26 2.5.1.3 Creekside Lodge (Base C) ..................................................................................... 26 2.5.1.4 Hidden Peak Facilities Upgrade (Hidden A) ......................................................... 28 2.5.1.5 Little Cloud Lift Upgrade (Gad O) ........................................................................ 28 2.5.1.6 Barrier Free Trail Extension (Gad D) .................................................................... 28 2.5.1.7 Madam Annie’s Modification (Gad F) .................................................................. 28 2.5.1.8 Skier’s Access to Upper Emma (Gad H) ............................................................... 29 2.5.1.9 Blackjack Road Modification (Peru A) ................................................................. 29 2.5.1.10 Peruvian Snowmaking/Utility Corridor ............................................................... 29 2.5.2 Alternative 3 – Preferred Alternative ........................................................................... 29 2.5.2.1 Beginner Area .......................................................................................................
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