United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Northeast Portion of Yavapai Ranch: Reciprocal Easements and Improvements Project Draft Environmental Assessment

Chino Valley Ranger District, Prescott National Forest, Yavapai County, Arizona March 2014

For More Information Contact:

Jim Gilsdorf, District Ranger Chino Valley Ranger District 735 N Hwy 89 Chino Valley, AZ 86323-0485 Phone: 928-777-2200 Email: [email protected] Fax: 928-777-2208

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Chino Valley Ranger District, Prescott National Forest

Table of Contents Introduction ...... 2 Proposed Project Location ...... 2 Need for the Proposal ...... 4 Public Involvement and Tribal Consultation ...... 4 Proposed Action and Alternatives ...... 5 Alternative 1 - No Action ...... 6 Alternative 2 - The Proposed Action ...... 6 Design Criteria ...... 7 Mitigation Measures ...... 9 Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives...... 10 Direct and Indirect Effects ...... 10 Cumulative Effects ...... 10 Table 2. Summary of Proposed Development Communities within Yavapai Ranch ...... 11 Physical Resources ...... 12 Land Use ...... 13 Air Quality ...... 15 Groundwater, Surface Water, and Floodplains ...... 16 Biological Resources ...... 20 Threatened and Endangered Species ...... 21 Bald and Golden eagles ...... 21 Migratory Birds ...... 22 Forest Plan Management Indicator Species ...... 23 Social and Economic Resources ...... 25 Environmental Justice ...... 26 Native American Indian Religious Concerns ...... 27 Heritage Resources ...... 28 Finding of No Significant Impact ...... Error! Bookmark not defined. Context ...... Error! Bookmark not defined. Intensity ...... Error! Bookmark not defined. References ...... 32 Acronyms ...... 33 Figures: ...... 34

APPENDIX A: ARIZONA GAME & FISH COMMENTS REGARDING YAVAPAI RANCH MINOR PLAN AMENDMENT ...... 39 APPENDIX B: SCOPING COMMENT LETTERS ...... 50

1 Northeast Portion of Yavapai Ranch: Reciprocal Easements And Roadway Improvement Project

Introduction We are proposing to exchange reciprocal easements with Yavapai Ranch Limited Partnership, on specific roads totaling approximately 260 acres within “checkerboard” portion of the Chino Valley Ranger District, Prescott National Forest. The exchange would also include provisions for Yavapai Ranch to maintain roads and install utilities within the roadbed. This proposal would implement the PNF’s land management plan to grant easements for road and utility access when other practical routes are unavailable. The proposal is not authorized under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act, and is subject to subparts A and B of the objection process described in 36 CFR 218.

We prepared this environmental assessment (EA) to determine if the exchange of easements and associated activities may significantly affect the quality of the human environment and thereby require the preparation of an environmental impact statement. By preparing this EA, we are fulfilling agency policy and direction to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). For more details of the proposed action, see the Proposed Action and Alternatives section of this document.

Based upon the effects of the Proposed Action, the Responsible Official will decide whether or not to grant and accept the reciprocal easements and whether an environmental impact statement will be prepared.

Proposed Project Location The Project area is located approximately 30 miles northwest of Prescott along County Road 5 (Williamson Valley Road), in Townships 19 and 20 North, Ranges 5 and 6 West, Yavapai County, and is within the Chino Valley Ranger District, Prescott National Forest, Arizona (Figure 1). The land is gently rolling with a few low mountains and ravines. It is mainly grassland and piñon-juniper woodland.

2 Chino Valley Ranger District, Prescott National Forest

3 Northeast Portion of Yavapai Ranch: Reciprocal Easements And Roadway Improvement Project

Need for the Proposal The Yavapai Ranch Limited Partnership (YRLP, “Proponent”) is the owner of approximately 35,500 discontinuous acres in parcels within a 100,000 acre block of alternating private (Yavapai Ranch) and public (Prescott National Forest; PNF) sections of land known as the “checkerboard” portion of the Chino Valley Ranger District on the PNF (Figure 1). Access to these parcels within the checkerboard of Federal and private lands is needed to allow users of NFS land access across private land to the PNF, and for legal access for YRLP to the private land it owns. Guaranteed legal access will allow YRLP to use and develop its lands without concern for future access. The decision will also allow existing roads to be maintained to at least minimum Forest Service standards for a single-lane fair- weather road by YRLP.

The YRLP applied for road easements to assure continued legal access to portions of the private land across portions of the PNF and, if granted, has agreed to grant reciprocal easements to PNF across the private lands. Currently, there are no legal easements or rights-of-way between these entities.

All the roads to be covered under the reciprocal agreements are within the Williamson North Management Area of the larger Prescott/Chino/Drake Geographical Area (Draft Revised Prescott National Forest Plan, August 2012, map Appendix A).

Public Involvement and Tribal Consultation The proposal was listed in the PNF’s Schedule of Proposed Actions beginning July 01, 2010. The proposal was provided to the public and other agencies for comment during a scoping period in August and September, 2010. As part of the public involvement process, the Forest Service also mailed scoping materials to 14 agency representatives and 42 adjacent land owners, deemed to be the interested public.

One comment letter was received from Yavapai County regarding the right-of-way of Williamson Valley Road and is included in Appendix B. Additionally, as part of the

4 Chino Valley Ranger District, Prescott National Forest

County’s Planned Area Development (PAD) approval, one comment letter was submitted by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) and is considered part of this EA analysis (Appendix B).

The Forest Service consulted the following individuals, Federal, State, and local agencies during the development of this EA:

FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AGENCIES:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service USDA Rural Utilities Service US Fish and Wildlife Service Western Area Power Administration Arizona Department of Agriculture Arizona Game and Fish Department Arizona State Parks State Historic Preservation Office Arizona Department of Transportation Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division City of Prescott Yavapai County

OTHERS:

Arizona Public Service Center for Biological Diversity Salt River Project

Proposed Action and Alternatives This section describes the Yavapai Ranch Reciprocal Easements and Improvements project including maps and description of the impacts on key resources. In addition to the Proposed Action (as described below), the Forest Service also evaluated a No Action alternative, which would mean that the reciprocal easements would not be exchanged and that the Forest Service would not allow for road improvements or

5 Northeast Portion of Yavapai Ranch: Reciprocal Easements And Roadway Improvement Project

utility installation described within this analysis. These descriptions are intended to sharply define the differences between the Proposed Action and No Action alternatives and provide a clear basis for choice by the decision maker.

Alternative 1 - No Action Under the No Action alternative, current status would continue to guide management and use of the Project area. No conveyance of reciprocal easements between PNF and YRLP would be implemented. Any development of adjacent private lands would still be possible, subject to local approval, as continued access across NFS lands would be allowed as long as system roads remained open; however no utility installation or improvements to roads would occur and both public and private roads could be subject to closure. There would be no guaranteed legal access across the private lands to the national forest.

Alternative 2 - The Proposed Action Through the Reciprocal Easements and Improvements Project (Project), the Prescott National Forest (PNF) proposes to acquire easements across Yavapai Ranch private lands and convey easements across National Forest System (NFS) lands to the Yavapai Ranch homeowners association. The project proponent, Yavapai Ranch Limited Partnership (YRLP), proposes to acquire road and utility easements 66-feet wide (33 feet each side of centerline) on existing routes through NSF lands, for year- round use. The easements would be issued to a homeowners association (HOA) that would be formed prior to issuance.

The PNF will acquire reciprocal easements over private land owned by YRLP for year-round use. Three of the roads being considered for reciprocal easements are not currently part of the PNF Transportation System. If approved under this National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) action, these roads would become National Forest System roads.

Because YRLP intends to develop the private lands involved, potentially for up to 6,500 residential units and three village centers, this document also analyzes the effects of the installation of utilities (overhead or underground lines or underground

6 Chino Valley Ranger District, Prescott National Forest

pipes) along the roadways, and roadway improvements such as widening, gravel surfacing or resurfacing, drainage crossings, signs, and barriers as part of the proposed action. When and if YRLP or the HOA proposes to improve roads or install utilities along roads included in this analysis, additional Forest Service approval and permitting would be required, but no additional NEPA analysis.

The approximately 16.7 miles of road and utility easements to be acquired by YRLP would be 66 feet wide across PNF for permanent year round use. Three of these roads are not on the NFS of roads; two were previously on the system but were subsequently listed as decommissioned, and one is a user-created route that is in an environmentally preferable location to a comparable existing system route. Through the Proposed Action, these roads would be added to the NFS system. The PNF will acquire reciprocal easements of 17.8 miles of roads through private land owned by YRLP for year round use (Figures 2a-2c).

Regardless of which parcels are developed, there would be a need for utilities, and the right-of-way easements/corridors assessed for this reciprocal easement would be the likely location for any utility lines or pipes. Therefore this document includes analysis of impacts from utility installation along the easement corridor. While it is currently anticipated that some or all of the electrical needs would be supplied by local solar and or wind power, there may be utility lines in the future. Future road improvements may include grading, widening, hardening, new culverts or water crossings, signage, paint, and protective barriers.

Design Criteria

In response to internal agency comments on the proposal, the following design criteria were developed to address resource concerns identified from the initial proposed action.

Prior to roadway improvements on private or NFS lands, a Jurisdictional Waters of the United States determination by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is required for drainages in the project area.

7 Northeast Portion of Yavapai Ranch: Reciprocal Easements And Roadway Improvement Project

The YRLP or HOA shall ensure that a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan meeting the requirements of the current Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit for Discharge from Construction Activities to the Waters of the United States issued by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is prepared and approved, if required, prior to ground disturbing activities on private or NFS lands.

The YRLP or HOA shall ensure that any work in drainage areas on private or NFS lands shall be assessed for potential regulation under the Clean Water Act and USACE.

The YRLP or HOA shall ensure that all disturbed soils on NFS lands that will not be landscaped or otherwise permanently stabilized by construction will be seeded using species approved by the PNF for the Project vicinity.

If previously unidentified cultural resources or heritage sites are encountered during road maintenance or improvements or utility installation on NFS lands, the construction work shall stop immediately at that location and all reasonable steps shall be taken to secure the preservation of those resources. The PNF Historic Preservation Team shall be contacted immediately and make arrangements for proper treatment of those resources.

Roadway improvements near heritage sites previously identified may be subject to consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office, as determined by the PNF Historic Preservation Team.

If hazardous materials are encountered during construction, work shall cease at that location and the County and/or PNF shall be contacted to arrange for proper assessment, treatment, or disposal of those materials.

If water is to be acquired from or piped across NFS lands, a more detailed analysis, following Forest Service Region 3 direction, and a permit would be required.

Road improvements to Maintenance Level 3 on NFS roads would require the submission of engineering plans, stamped by a professional engineer, and the approval of those plans by the PNF.

8 Chino Valley Ranger District, Prescott National Forest

Electrical, natural gas, water, or communication facilities within the 66-foot easement on NFS lands will require an application to the PNF and approval by the PNF for permits to install and maintain the lines. No additional analysis under NEPA is anticipated.

Traffic controls and warnings will be implemented as appropriate for any road or utility work.

Mitigation Measures

To prevent the introduction of invasive species, all earth-moving and hauling equipment shall be washed at the contractor’s storage facility prior to entering NFS lands. Also, materials pits for construction materials shall be assessed for the presence of invasive weeds and treated as appropriate to eliminate weed seeds. To prevent invasive species seeds from leaving a site, the contractor shall inspect all construction equipment and remove all attached plant/vegetation debris prior to leaving the site.

To prevent the spread of invasive species, soil and gravel materials will not be moved from an infested area into a non-infested area without appropriate measures.

In order to mitigate potential mortality risks to birds from line collision or electrocution, the entity installing poles or aboveground lines should consult with the Avian Power Line Interaction Committee’s guidance to ensure that the design of its transmission-line supports and other transmission infrastructure minimize the potential for avian electrocution (http://www.aplic.org/).

9 Northeast Portion of Yavapai Ranch: Reciprocal Easements And Roadway Improvement Project

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives This section summarizes the potential impacts of the proposed action and alternatives for each impacted resource. Resources that were not impacted because they do not occur within or adjacent to the project area are not further analyzed. These include: parklands, prime farmlands, wetlands, wild and scenic rivers, ecologically critical areas, and endangered or threatened species or their critical habitat.

Direct and Indirect Effects

Direct effects from the proposed action are those that are a result of the action and occur roughly at the same time and place as the action. Indirect effects are caused by the action but are further removed in time and/or space. There are no direct effects from the reciprocal easements themselves; however, there would be direct effects from any subsequent road improvements and installation of utilities including removal of vegetation, soil disturbance, and increased vehicular traffic. Indirect effects could also include increased wildlife/traffic interactions leading to increased wildlife mortality, and potential impacts to wildlife from any overhead utility lines.

Cumulative Effects

Cumulative effects are the effects of past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future activities which have impacts that overlap in time and space with the effects of the proposed action. Within and around the general area of the Yavapai Ranch there are few visitors and little development. The primary activities include past and present livestock grazing, hunting, and dispersed recreation. Historic livestock grazing has likely altered the vegetation somewhat but those alterations are now evaluated as the current conditions. Livestock grazing operations and hunting have led to the development and continued use of the primitive road system in the area. None of these activities have had much effect on the overall historic conditions and resources in the area. Thus there would be no impacts of note from these activities to combine with the effects of the proposed action.

10 Chino Valley Ranger District, Prescott National Forest

For reasonably foreseeable future actions, the development of the private parcels is the only known proposal. A Planned Area Development (PAD) was submitted to and approved by Yavapai County for housing developments across much of the private property on Yavapai Ranch. The PAD includes six individual communities, or “villages”; three with village centers. The total number of residences proposed in the PAD is 6,500 for all six combined.

The proposed easements access two of these villages adjacent to Williamson Valley Road; Juniper Mountain Ranch and Homestead Ranch (Figure 3). The remaining planned communities of Grassland Airpark, Long View Ranches, Antelope Ranch, and Ponderosa Ranch are located in the south and western portions of Yavapai Ranch and will be planned for access at a later time depending on housing demands. At this time, the only housing design plans provided to PNF are as shown in the approved PAD, which is not subject to the authority or jurisdiction of the Forest Service. For planning purposes, PNF has attempted to estimate location of buildings and access roads, water sources and utility needs; therefore, impacts for each resource are based on information provided in the PAD.

Table 2. Summary of Proposed Development Communities within Yavapai Ranch Community Area on YR (acres) Maximum Number of Units Homestead Ranch 4,480 850 Juniper Mountain Ranch 17,400 3,285 Source: Granite Basin Engineering, 2012 (Figure 3)

The current development within the PAD identifies a conceptual land use plan for two areas within 35,500 acres of the Chino Valley Ranger District, which include the Homestead Ranch and Juniper Mountain Ranch villages (Table 2). These villages include a network of existing roads, shared private driveways, trail easements along lot fronts and roadways, open space, drainages, wildlife corridors, and trail connections (Exhibit G2, PAD). Approximately 17,400 acres comprise the Juniper

11 Northeast Portion of Yavapai Ranch: Reciprocal Easements And Roadway Improvement Project

Mountain Ranch village with a maximum number of 3,285 residential units and the Homestead Village includes 4,480 acres with 850 residential units.

The effects from the housing developments that would be accessed by the easements would be added to effects associated with potential road improvements and utility installation as part of the Proposed Action. Effects of the housing developments would include additional removal of vegetation, soil disturbance, and wildlife interactions with traffic and/or overhead power lines. The additional developments within Yavapai Ranch beyond the ones connected to the easements are in western portions of Yavapai Ranch not easily accessed by Williamson Valley Road or the proposed easements. There are no ongoing assessments of reciprocal easements for these other developments. These developments would likely further affect various resources, but the effects of the Proposed Action would be unlikely to extend to the area of these developments. Presently there are no plans or specific proposals for how or when these additional developments will occur and therefore any estimates of effects would be speculative.

The following resources summarize the physical, biological, social, and economic environments of the affected Project area and the potential changes to those environments due to implementation of the alternatives. It evaluates direct, indirect, and cumulative effects to various resources.

Physical Resources

Physical resources include land (land use), air (air quality) and water (groundwater, surface water and floodplains). Resource impact indicators are quantifiable markers that clearly show change to a designated resource. The resource impact indicators for physical resources under this Project are changes in air quality and pollutants, surface water patterns, soil movement, and floodplain alteration. The effects on physical resources from indirect and cumulative actions would include soil disturbance from grading activities, temporary decreases in air quality during construction activities, localized alterations in drainage patterns, and increased soil erosion.

12 Chino Valley Ranger District, Prescott National Forest

The Proposed Action of granting reciprocal easements to a HOA would not affect physical resources; however, ground disturbing activities associated with utility or other improvements along any of the current or future private or NSF roads could affect these resources, including affects to air quality from dust during construction, and surface water pattern alteration due to culverts or other crossing and drainage structures. Road maintenance would have little if any additional impact, as maintenance would be expected as a result of seasonal weather events to repair damage from roadway drainage, ponding, or flooding. Future road improvements and utility development would require additional Federal and local authorization (e.g., Section 404 permitting).

Management responsibility of the roads granted to PNF would not change, however the authority would change on roads crossing PNF lands under the established HOA. The HOA could maintain the roads up to Maintenance Level 3, whereas the Forest Service would not perform maintenance on the roads contained within the easement across the Yavapai Ranch lands.

The reasonably foreseeable activities in the area are related to the development of residential homes and associated infrastructure as well as increased use of roads for ingress/egress across private and PNF lands. The developments would be subject to the approved PAD by the County, and it is likely that there would be an additional Federal oversight associated with the development projects, including but not necessarily limited to the permitting of drainage crossings for Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and/or floodplain management permits authorized by the Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA). Because of these requirements, it is unlikely that the effects on physical resources from road improvements and utility installation along the roadways combined with effects from the housing development would have any notable overall impact.

Land Use All NFS system roads are designated using a road classification system designed to protect, administer, and use the National Forest for management and public access. Not all classified roads are open for use by the public; some are only available for

13 Northeast Portion of Yavapai Ranch: Reciprocal Easements And Roadway Improvement Project

Forest Service administrative or management access, utility maintenance, or by permit. A system road is classified by level of maintenance, from 1 to 5, based on the level of service for which the road is maintained. The reciprocal easements would result in all roads under the agreement being maintained at their current levels (Level 1 – closed to the public; or Level II – for low speed, high clearance vehicles) until plans are submitted for road improvements and permits issued. Maintenance Level II is minimal and focused on maintaining drainage and runoff patterns for resource protection (FSH 7709.58).

Impacts to land use as a result of the road and utility reciprocal easements would include the addition of three routes, totaling approximately two miles, which are not currently on the NFS system. Road improvements and residential development would lead to increased traffic on all the roads. Approximately 130 acres of NFS lands would be directly affected by the Proposed Action, which includes road grading, utility poles, drainage improvements, turnouts, and signage.

The road easements issued to the HOA will allow for the installation of utility lines or pipes within the 66-foot easement, subject to required plans and permits, without additional NEPA analysis. Before any water transportation across NFS lands occurs, there would be additional analysis required following the Region 3 Supplement to Forest Service Manual 2500 (Supplement #2500-2001-1).

Under the No Action alternative, without the reciprocal road exchange, current management plans would continue to guide management of the roadway system, and there would be no ground-disturbing activities (e.g., soil disturbance) by improvements to roads or utility installation on NFS lands. However, residential development could move forward on private lands, though residential density would not be as high as under full build-out of Homestead Ranch and Juniper Mountain Ranch. Under the No Action alternative, the effect any build-out within the private land would still include disturbance to land uses on NFS lands. Any development in the Homestead and Juniper Mountain Ranch areas would likely result in increased human use in the area from the current occasional, seasonal disbursed camping and

14 Chino Valley Ranger District, Prescott National Forest

off-road-vehicle use to more consistent use throughout all seasons of use and increased use, although use would not be as great as under the Proposed Action.

Air Quality The Project area is not located within any designated non-attainment areas for priority air pollutants of the Clean Air Act. The Project area is located within a currently open space area included in Yavapai County’s Comprehensive General Plan.

Temporary impacts to air quality could occur from temporary ground disturbing activities associated with roadway improvements. Temporary ground disturbance in relation to roadway grading and utility installation would occur, which would result in temporary increases in dust; however, during construction, dust control regulations would be implemented and regulated by the County or PNF. After construction, impacts could include increased traffic volumes as a result of improved roads and residential housing.

Cumulatively, improvements to Williams Valley Road could trigger temporary increases in dust as well as potential build-out of two subdivisions per the approved PAD. Management changes of adjacent private lands may also trigger increased pollutants to air quality, however the County would likely regulate through issuance of a dust control permit. Overall, impacts to air quality are expected to be short-term and minimal.

Without the reciprocal road exchange, current management plans would continue to guide management of the roadway system, and there would be no ground-disturbing activities (e.g., soil disturbance) by improvements to roads or utility installation on NFS lands. However, residential development could move forward on private lands, though residential density would not be as high as under full build-out of Homestead Ranch and Juniper Mountain Ranch. Under the No Action alternative, the effect any build-out within the private land would still include disturbance to land uses on NFS lands. Any development in the Homestead and Juniper Mountain Ranch areas would likely result in increased human use in the area from the current occasional, seasonal disbursed camping and off-road-vehicle use to more consistent use throughout all

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seasons of use and increased use, though use would not be as great as under the Proposed Action. Effects would still include a probably slight decrease in air quality.

Groundwater, Surface Water, and Floodplains The Project area is located in the Verde River Basin, upper Big Chino sub-basin. The principal aquifer of the Big Chino sub-basin consists of widespread basin-fill sediments interbedded with basalt flows and alluvial sands and gravels in the major washes. Recharge in the basin is from runoff along the mountain fronts or active washes (Hickson, 2006). Discharges are from groundwater pumping and surface water outflow. Designated FEMA floodplains associated with the Turkey Canyon Creek watershed traverse through the central portion of the Project area. Executive Order 11988 requires project mitigation and design to alleviate or eliminate adverse impacts to floodplains.

Groundwater Thirteen water production wells on private lands are located within the Project area and are registered with the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) for drawing groundwater for domestic and stock uses from depths between approximately 150 and 450 feet below ground surface (Table 3). These wells, along with other wells outside the immediate Project area, have been installed for the addition of a domestic water improvement district in connection with the future development of the private lands. A wetlands, water rights, and floodplains assessment was drafted in 2007 as part of a prior proposed land exchange with Yavapai Ranch (Jemison, 2007), as well as by the Coconino National Forest (Steinke, 2007) and Kaibab National Forest (Hink, 2007).

Direct impacts associated with groundwater in the Project area will not occur as the roadway improvements will not use or impact groundwater in the vicinity. After construction, groundwater may be used during dust management practices, but any impacts to groundwater are expected to be short-term and minimal. Increased traffic along roads would not impact groundwater use.

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Table 3. Registered Wells on YRLP Private Lands

Depth to Date Ground Well Constr water No. Status ucted* Owner (feet) Use

512027 Active 1985 YRLP 332 Stockwatering

512028 Active 1985 620 YRLP Stockwatering

519568 Active 1987 280 Domestic & YRLP Stockwatering

538087 Capped 1993 YRLP Replacement of Well #644047 N/A 284 Domestic & Stockwatering 540650 Active 1994 YRLP (replaced 55- 538087)

579655 Active 2000 YRLP 168 Domestic

641447 Active 1952 YRLP 620 Stockwatering

644046 Active 1947 YRLP 765 Stockwatering

N/A Domestic & 644047 Capped N/A YRLP Stockwatering

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Table 3. Registered Wells on YRLP Private Lands

Depth to Date Ground Well Constr water No. Status ucted* Owner (feet) Use

644048 Active 1946 YRLP 210 Stockwatering

644049 Active 1952 YRLP 700 Stockwatering

644054 Active 1948 YRLP 610 Stockwatering

644052 Active 1933 YRLP 516 Stockwatering

901342 Active 2004 YRLP N/A Domestic

901397 Active 2004 YRLP 309 Domestic

Source: ADWR, 2014, Figures 2a, 2b, 2c

Cumulatively, groundwater use would likely be required for the housing development, Williamson Valley Road improvement, two subdivision build-out within the YR, and potential management changes to adjacent private lands. Groundwater use is under the authority of the County and State for development of private lands. Development of water sources from NFS lands, or piping of water across NFS lands, would require additional assessment under Forest Service water development protocols. The increased use of groundwater beneath the Project area that would be associated with future residential and commercial development and the addition of a domestic water improvement district will be evaluated further by the

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County as the addition of the district has already been approved by the County (Yavapai County, 2014) and is beyond the scope of this assessment.

Surface Water, including Floodplains The exchange of road easements would not directly affect surface or ground water. Future road improvements and infrastructure would incorporate design features per Yavapai County standards and Best Management Practices (BMPs) to minimize impacts to surface water.

The project area includes numerous ephemeral washes that drain into Turkey Canyon within the western portion of the Project area or into Big Chino Wash on the east beyond the Project area. The Project area is subject to intense monsoon events and large, flashy run-off events. One roadway reciprocal easement parallels the Turkey Canyon channel (FSR 009844A, Figure 2b).

Floodplain impacts to Turkey Canyon would be minimized by roadway improvements as required by a floodplain permit from Yavapai County.

During roadway and utility construction, these actions would be bound spatially by the downstream locations of the 66-foot roadway corridors on both the NFS and private lands. Compliance with the Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (AZPDES) stormwater permit for construction activities will be required, which requires implementation of a stormwater pollution prevention plan that includes BMPs to control erosion and sedimentation. Because the existing roads cross ephemeral drainages, there is a potential that disturbance, particularly fill for culvert installation at drainage crossings, and could require compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Prior to roadway improvements, a jurisdictional waters of the U.S. determination by the USCAE is recommended for all drainages in the project area.

Cumulative impacts as a result of the housing and commercial development, improvements to Williamson Valley Road, build-out of two of six subdivisions, and management changes of adjacent private lands could include potential floodplain impacts, erosion, and sedimentation. Potential impacts to surface water and

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groundwater that could result from the future development of the private lands include alteration of natural drainage patterns and increased use of underlying groundwater. The alteration of natural drainage patterns or floodplains could have downstream effects, which would require review and possible mitigation by the Yavapai Flood Control District and FEMA.

Without the reciprocal road exchange, current management plans would continue to guide management of the roadway system, and there would be no ground-disturbing activities (e.g., soil removal) by improvements to roads or utility installation on NFS lands. However, residential development could move forward on private lands, though residential density would not be as high as under full build-out of Homestead Ranch and Juniper Mountain Ranch. Human use in the area would be expected to increase from the current occasional, seasonal disbursed camping and off-road- vehicle use to more consistent use throughout all seasons of use and increased use, though use would not be as great as under the Proposed Action. Effects would still include some likely disturbance to surface water and floodplains on NFS lands.

Biological Resources

Biological resources include the plants and animals known to be in the Project area with the potential to be affected by the project as assessed by PNF’s biologist. Analysis of biological resources includes Federally listed threatened and endangered species, bald and golden eagles, migratory birds, Regional Forester sensitive species, and Forest Plan management indicator species.

Resource impact indicators are quantifiable markers that clearly show change to a protected resource. For biological resources, indicators include results of activities that would require permitting from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) such as the incidental take of protected species or the loss of protected habitat acres. Other resource indicators, though harder to quantify, include the mortality of individuals and the loss or alternation of habitat for species without specific protections.

The reciprocal easements are located in the northern portion of the Chino Valley Ranger District and lie approximately 60 miles north of Prescott and 12 miles south

20 Chino Valley Ranger District, Prescott National Forest

of Seligman, Arizona (Figures 1 and 2a–2c). Elevation within the project area ranges from 5,100 to 5,900 feet above mean sea level (amsl), west of Big Chino Valley. Major geographic features within the project area include the Juniper Mountains throughout and Turkey Canyon in its western half (Figures 1 and 2a–2c).

Vegetation in the project area consists of piñon-juniper woodlands and open grasslands of the Great Basin Conifer Woodland and Plains and Great Basin Grasslands biotic communities (PNF, 2010). Forest Service System roads in the project area are dirt/native materials and meet the minimum standards for US Forest Service single-lane fair-weather roads. In addition to passing over open areas, some roads traverse passes between low hills where various rock outcrops, including basalt and limestone, protrude. A review of PNF fire records indicated that areas adjacent to the roads have not recently burned.

Numerous stock ponds and watering tanks are located within the project area as the area is actively grazed under the allotment system of the Taylor Grazing Act. The project area is also actively hunted and, on NFS lands, open to other multiple uses as detailed in the PNF LRMP.

Threatened and Endangered Species As there are no federally listed species or their critical habitats in the project area with the potential to be impacted by the granting of reciprocal easements, this Project will have no affect to any such species or their habitats.

Bald and Golden eagles Within the Project area, approximately 261 acres across three vegetation types, habitat exists for bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) for foraging. While there are no specific known locations for bald eagle nests or roosts on NFS lands within the Project area, potential suitable nesting habitat occurs is known in Aubrey Valley and Baca Float on either side of Yavapai Ranch. Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are known to nest in this area as well as migrate through the area.

The reciprocal road exchange itself would cause no ground-disturbing activities. However, future roadway improvements/alterations implemented to better access

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private lands might include grading, widening, paving, and/or drainage work at ephemeral wash crossings. Increased use on the roads would not be expected to result in any disturbance or take of golden eagles. However, the future construction of above ground utility lines and poles could pose a mortality risk to migrating golden eagles known to occur in the Aubrey Valley north of the project area. In order to mitigate potential mortality risks from line collision or electrocution, the entity installing poles or above ground lines should consult with the Avian Power Line Interaction Committee’s guidance to ensure that the design of its transmission line supports and other transmission infrastructure minimize the potential for avian electrocution (http://www.aplic.org/).

Without the reciprocal road exchange, current management plans would continue to guide management of the roadway system, and there would be no ground-disturbing activities (e.g., vegetation removal) on PNF lands for roadway improvements. However, residential development could move forward and human use in the area would be expected to increase from the current occasional, seasonal disbursed camping and off-road-vehicle use to more consistent use throughout all seasons of use and increased use. Although residential density would not be as high as under the Proposed Action, effects would still include disturbance to habitat on FS lands.

Migratory Birds In accordance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Executive Order 13186, and the MOU signed December 2008, this Project was evaluated for its effects on migratory birds.

A total of 92 species of migratory birds was assessed for the potential to occur on the PNF (PNF 2011). Within the three vegetation types within the project area (ponderosa-pinyon, pinyon-juniper, and grasslands), numerous migratory bird might be expected within the project area. The reciprocal road exchange itself would cause no ground-disturbing activities. However, future roadway improvements/alterations implemented to better access private lands might include grading, widening, paving, and/or drainage work at ephemeral wash crossings. The maximum amount of vegetation disturbance (including nesting, foraging, and cover habitat) by future

22 Chino Valley Ranger District, Prescott National Forest

roadway improvements would be approximately 260 acres across the entire Project area, a very small percentage (0.019%) of habitat available to migratory birds across the entirety of PNF. Future installation of overhead utility lines and poles could pose some mortality risks to migratory birds. To alleviate or minimize impacts, entities installing overhead utilities should review Avian Power Line Interaction Committee’s guidance to ensure that the design of its transmission line supports and other transmission infrastructure minimize the potential for avian electrocution (http://www.aplic.org/).

Under the No Action, no migratory birds would be impacted as the reciprocal roads and utility easements would not be granted. However, residential development could move forward although density would not be as high as under the Proposed Action, effects would still include disturbance to habitat on FS lands.

Forest Plan Management Indicator Species For PNF Management Indicator Species (MIS), effects to habitat may be used as a proxy for effects to MIS. Forest-level population trends for MIS were discussed in Forest Level Analysis of MIS for the PNF, October 2010. Monitoring of game-species populations such as mule deer and pronghorn is conducted by the AGFD. This Project assessed the impacts of this project to the habitat quantity and quality within the Project area and effects to forest-wide habitat and population trends.

Within the Project area, roadside vegetation within the reciprocated easements totals approximately 260 acres across three vegetation types. A maximum of 260 acres across three vegetation types would be impacted, much of which is existing unimproved road and adjacent disturbance. A maximum of 0.019% of forest-wide habitat across three vegetation types could be disturbed resulting in a minimal impact to forest-level habitat. Because minimal impact to forest-level habitat is anticipated, there will also be minimal impacts to forest-level population trends (Table 4).

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Table 4. Summary of Vegetation types occurring across PNF and Project Area

Vegetation type PNF habitat Project Percent of PNF (%) (acres) Area (acres)

Ponderosa pine 115,535 17.44 0.015

Pinyon/juniper 683,795 129.72 0.019

Chaparral 304,780 0 0

Grassland/Desert 240,580 113.64 0.047 scrub

Riparian & aquatic 17,160 0 0

Total 1,372,0531 260.8 0.019 Source: PNF, 2014

Impacts to biological resources within the project area from roadway improvements and utility installation includes impacts to approximately 114 acres (.05% PNF) of grassland vegetation, approximately 130 acres (.02% PNF) of pinon-juniper vegetation and approximately 17 acres (.02% PNF) of Ponderosa pine vegetation. The ground disturbing activities would likely be conducted in accordance with County guidance and therefore conform to best management practices designed to eliminate, minimize, or mitigate for adverse effects.

After construction, increased use of PNF and private lands could impact wildlife habitat for the Pronghorn antelope, plains harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys

montanus), ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis), and golden eagle. However, since active hunting occurs within the lands, the increased use is not likely to significantly affect these animal species beyond current hunting effects. Indirect impacts, therefore,

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from the implementation of reciprocal agreements and roadway improvements and utility installation are likely to be minimal in nature and effect.

Cumulatively, biological resources would experience impacts as a result of future development of the private lands, which would include improvements to Williamson Valley Road, ultimate build-out of two subdivisions of Yavapai Ranch, and management changes to adjacent private lands. Any future development would contribute to habitat loss and fragmentation.

Without the reciprocal road exchange, current management plans would continue to guide management of the roadway system, and there would be no ground-disturbing activities in the project area. However, residential development could move forward and human use in the area would be expected to increase from the current occasional, seasonal disbursed camping and off-road-vehicle use to more consistent use throughout all seasons of use and increased use. Although residential density would not be as high as under the Proposed Action, effects would still include disturbance to MIS habitat on FS lands.

Social and Economic Resources

Social resources include the lifestyles and cultural values of people in and around the project area, the concerns of Native American Indians with ties to the project area, and heritage resources. Under the Proposed Action, the PNF would continue maintenance of surrounding public lands so that traditions and cultural values of the public and Native American Indians could continue. In fact, opportunities for lifestyles and cultural values could improve as a result of improved access to public and private lands. The resource impact indicators for social and economic resources under this project are a change in demographics, employment and income, Traditional Cultural Properties (TCPs) or Native American Indian lifestyles.

The granting reciprocal easements and development of roads is not anticipated to have any negative impacts on the lifeways or lifestyles of people or communities within the area.

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As a result of use of the improved roadways, there would be some beneficial impacts to human uses as access to private and Federal lands in the project area would be improved. Additionally, impacts to social resources from the connected actions considered beneficial include increase in tax revenues, and increase in jobs as a result of commercial and residential development. Other impacts could include increased dispersed recreational activities due to private development.

Environmental Justice On February 11, 1994, the President issued Executive Order No. 12898 concerning Environmental Justice and impacts on minority and low-income populations. The purpose of this order is to identify and address disproportionately high or adverse human health and environmental effects from Federal actions, programs, policies, or activities on minority or low-income populations. In the region around the Proposed Action, statistically significant populations include Native Americans Indians, Hispanics, and white Euro-Americans. Some members of these populations are within financially low-income groups (Table 5). Potential impacts to these populations within or around the project area from the proposed reciprocal easements would be minimal and would include guaranteed continued access across private lands to access the national forest. Cumulative effects from the housing developments are anticipated to be mostly beneficial as increased housing would provide an increase to the county, State, and Federal tax bases to provide services to disadvantaged groups. As development plans become available in the future, the County and YRLP will have an opportunity to assess the impacts to the community.

Table 5: 2012 Data from Quick Facts Census Data Yavapai County Arizona Population 212,637 6,551,149 Percent below poverty 15.3 17.2 level Percent identified 94.0 84.3 white (single ethnicity) Percent identified 13.9 30.2 Hispanic/Latino

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Table 5: 2012 Data from Quick Facts Census Data Yavapai County Arizona (single ethnicity) Percent identified 2.0 5.3 Native American (single ethnicity) Percent identified 2.1 2.5 multiple ethnicity Source: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/04/04025.html, accessed January 8, 2014.

Without the reciprocal road exchange, current management plans would continue to guide management of the roadway system, and there would be no ground-disturbing activities in the project area. However, residential development could move forward and human use in the area would be expected to increase from the current occasional, seasonal disbursed camping and off-road-vehicle use to greater and more consistent use throughout all seasons. Although residential density would not be as high as under the Proposed Action, environmental justice issues would remain unchanged.

Native American Indian Religious Concerns Traditional cultural properties (TCPs) is a term that has emerged in cultural resource management and the consideration of Native American religious concerns. TCPs are places that have cultural values that transcend, for instance, the values of scientific importance that are normally ascribed to cultural resources such as archaeological sites. The National Park Service, as the managing agency for the National Register of Historic Places has defined TCPs as follows:

A traditional cultural property can be defined generally as one (a property) that is eligible for the National Register because of its association with cultural practices or beliefs of a living community that (a) are rooted in that community’s history, and (b) are important in maintaining the continuing cultural identity of the community. (National Register Bulletin 38). Native American cultural associations are the “communities” most likely to identify TCPs, although TCPs are not restricted to this group. Some TCPs are well known,

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while others may only be known to a small group of traditional practitioners, or otherwise only vaguely known.

The PNF archaeologist reviewed the project area for the presence of any known TCPs. As none were identified within the project area or during consultation with Tribes, impacts to TCPs are not anticipated.

Heritage Resources Heritage resources refer to archaeological, traditional, and built environment resources, including but not limited to buildings, structures, objects, districts, and sites. Heritage resources also include traditional cultural properties, sacred objects – including places or things held as significant by Native American Indian tribes, individuals or communities – as previously discussed.

Not every item or individual feature within a Project area that could be considered a heritage resource requires detailed analysis. Heritage resources can be classified as sites or isolated occurrences. Isolated occurrences are cultural resources, which, due to their natures as minor, fragmentary, or of such ubiquitous nature, lack the potential for significance and are exempt from further evaluation. Similarly, some sites are determined to be eligible for listing (or, in the case of a re-surveyed site, already listed) on the National Register of Historic Places, while others are not eligible.

Archaeologists have conducted investigations in the Verde Valley and Prescott areas since the turn of the last century. The Verde River was an important transportation corridor in this area for many centuries, reflected by the blending of cultures that inhabited the area. The project area is within a transition area near the margins of the ancient Sinagua, Hohokam, and Cohonina cultures. The cultural history of the area is well documented in available literature and is surmised in the Archaeological Survey of Selected Road Segments Related to the Granting of Reciprocal Rights-Of-Way Between Yavapai Ranch, LP and the Prescott National Forest, Yavapai County, Arizona (Mitchell, 2010), which is on file at the Chino Valley Ranger District Office. This report documented the findings of a field survey undertaken for the Yavapai Ranch Reciprocal Easements project. Ten previously recorded archaeological sites,

28 Chino Valley Ranger District, Prescott National Forest one newly recorded archaeological site, and thirteen isolated occurrences were discovered and recorded in and along the road segments. The sites all consisted of sherd and lithic scatters, some of which included projectile points, manos, and metates. Two sites also had stone alignments. These sites were likely used by pre- European settlement peoples associated with the Prescott and Cohonina cultures, covering a range of activities including resource (plants, animals, stone) procurement and processing.

The resource indicators for heritage resources typically are changes to the actual site, its setting, integrity, sense of place, or other factor affecting its eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places and for which a Federal agency would seek consultation with State Historic Preservation Officer (or Tribal Historic Preservation Officer) under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

Impacts to heritage resources within the Project area from the implementation of future roadway improvements and utility installation would include grading, widening, paving, and/or drainage work at ephemeral wash crossings, and burying utility lines or erecting poles. If ground disturbing activities along these roads are proposed in the future, certain identified sites should either be avoided or any impacts mitigated, in consultation with the AZ SHPO and any affected tribes, so that there would be no adverse effect to any such resources. After construction, impacts would include increased traffic volumes with the potential for increased access to known sites, as a result of improved roads and residential housing.

Cumulatively, improvements to Williams Valley Road could impact heritage resources as well as potential build-out of two of six subdivisions per the approved PAD. Management changes of adjacent private lands may also cause impact to heritage resources, however, these resources are protected under State law on private lands. In accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes 41-844, if improvements within the private lands reveal cultural deposits during ground disturbing activities, all work in the immediate vicinity should stop until the deposits can be evaluated by a professional archaeologist. Overall, impacts to heritage resources are expected to be short-term and minimal.

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Without the reciprocal road exchange, current management plans would continue to guide management of the roadway system, and there would be no ground-disturbing activities in the project area. However, residential development could move forward, although residential density would not be as high as under the Proposed Action. Effects to heritage resources on FS lands would not likely occur.

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This analysis and documentation were produced for the Prescott National Forest by Del Sol Group, and reviewed by a Prescott National Forest Interdisciplinary (ID) Team.

PRESCOTT NATIONAL FOREST ID TEAM MEMBERS:

Rich Della Porta - Lands and Realty Specialist, Project Lead Noel Fletcher- Wildlife Biologist Jim Gilsdorf - Chino Valley District Ranger Linda Jackson - Bradshaw District Ranger Gabrielle Kenton - Environmental Coordinator Jim McKie - Forest Archaeologist Cynthia Moody - Recreation, Engineering, Lands, Heritage, Minerals Staff Officer Ken Simeral - Lands and Minerals Team Lead

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References Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR), 2014. Well 55 data for Yavapai Ranch lands. https://gisweb.azwater.gov/waterresourcedata/, accessed December 31, 2013.

Buhr, Travis., L., 2012. Comments regarding Yavapai Ranch ZMC H12066, Minor General Plan Amendment H12067. 8pp +additional comments submitted on Oct 2 (2pp).

Granite Basin Engineering, 2012. Correspondence from Davin Brenner, P.E. to Byron Jaspers, P.E., Public Works Director, Yavapai County Public Works. August 1.

Hickson, 2006. Floodplain and Wetland Evaluation of Proposed Northern Arizona- Yavapai Land Exchange, Prescott National Forest. Draft prepared November 12. 6pp+app.

Hink, 2007. Floodplain, Wetland and Water Rights Evaluation of Parcels for Proposed Northern Arizona Land Exchange Kaibab National Forest. Draft prepared March 21.

Jemison, 2007. Floodplain, Wetland and Water Rights Evaluation of Parcels for Proposed Northern Arizona Land Exchange, USDA Forest Service. Draft prepared May 29..

Mitchell, 2010. Archaeological Survey of Selected Road Segments Related to the Granting of Reciprocal Rights-of-Ways Between Yavapai Ranch, LP and the Prescott National Forest. Yavapai County, Arizona. August. 43pp.

Prescott National Forest (PNF), 2014. Yavapai Ranch Roads Reciprocal Easements Wildlife Specialist Report & Biological Evaluation, Chino Valley Ranger District. February. 32pp.

Steinke, 2007. Floodplain, Wetland and Water Rights Evaluation of Parcels for Proposed Yavapai Exchange, Coconino National Forest. Draft prepared March 27.

Yavapai County, 2014. Domestic Water Improvement Districts. http://www.yavapai.us/sd/domestic-water-improvement-districts/. Accessed February 7, 2014.

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Acronyms AGFD Arizona Game and Fish Department ANILC Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation AZPDES Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System BMPs Best Management Practices CMP Conceptual Master Plan CWA Clean Water Act EA Environmental Assessment FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency HOA Homeowner’s Association LOI Letter of Intent LRMP Long Range Management Plan NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NFS National Forest System PAD Planned Area Development PM10 Particulate Matter, 10 microns or less PNF Prescott National Forest SHPO State Historical Preservation Office TCPs Traditional Cultural Properties USFWS US Fish and Wildlife Service YRDA Yavapai Ranch Development Agreement YRLP Yavapai Ranch Limited Partnership

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Figures: Figure 2A: Northern Quad Map

Figure 2B: Southwest Quad Map

Figure 2C: Southeast Quad Map

Figure 3: Associated Development Areas for Reciprocal Easements

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36 Chino Valley Ranger District, Prescott National Forest

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APPENDIX A: ARIZONA GAME & FISH COMMENTS REGARDING YAVAPAI RANCH MINOR PLAN AMENDMENT

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APPENDIX B: SCOPING COMMENT LETTERS

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51