United States Department of Agriculture
Mt. Elden / Dry Lakes Hills Recreation Planning Project Scoping Proposed Action
Forest Service Coconino National Forest August 2020 Mt. Elden / Dry Lake Hills Recreation Planning Project Scoping Proposed Action
For More Information Contact:
Christine Handler Team Leader Phone: 559-920-2188 Email: [email protected]
1 Mt. Elden / Dry Lake Hills Recreation Planning Project Scoping Proposed Action
Project Background The Mt. Elden/Dry Lake Hills (MEDL) area is located directly north of Flagstaff, Arizona (figure 1). Largely because of its proximity to Flagstaff and the appealing diversity of forest topography and vegetation, it is the most popular and heavily used recreation area on the Flagstaff Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest. The area provides thousands of forest visitors opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors, including hiking, mountain biking, riding horse, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or rock climbing. Adjacent property owners walk this area daily and the project area borders the City of Flagstaff’s ‘Buffalo Park,’ which serves as one of the primary gateways into the Coconino National Forest from Flagstaff.
The original MEDL trail system was dedicated in 1987. There are eight trailheads providing access to 14 designated National Forest System trails, including portions of the Arizona National Scenic Trail, Flagstaff Loop Trail, and the historic Beale Wagon Trail. The Little Elden Springs Horse Camp is adjacent to Forest Service Road 556 providing access to the trail system for equestrians staying at the campground. There are numerous organized recreation events which utilize trails and trailheads, some of which have been issued annual special-use permits for over a decade.
The Mt. Elden Environmental Study Area was established in the mid-seventies. The Environmental Study Area is a 400-acre parcel of land established as a study site and bird sanctuary for the purpose of environmental education. As part of the Environmental Study Area, there are four designated trails that provide interpretive opportunities for students and the public. Use of the Environmental Study Area for education has varied over the years, and has been utilized infrequently for this purpose in recent years.. In addition, Elden Pueblo Interpretive Site, which is located off Highway 89, was established to provide opportunities for education and involvement in the science of archaeology.
Trail improvements have recently been implemented. Since the early 2000s much of Schultz Creek Trail was relocated out of the drainage in sustainable side-slope locations; this work is still incomplete, and efforts continue today. Following the 2010 Schultz Fire, Little Bear trail was completely rebuilt. Beginning in 2018 Little Elden and Heart trails were relocated to sustainable locations in a large reroute effort, this work was recently completed in 2020.
In addition to the 2010 Schultz Fire, other forest management activities and wildfires have greatly changed the MEDL area. In 2012 City of Flagstaff voters approved a bond to treat the forest in an effort to reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire which could have large negative effects on the City. The Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project began in earnest in 2017 and has included timber harvesting and thinning activities on steep slopes as well as helicopter and steep slope logging. Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project projects are expected to continue for the next 3 to 5 years within the MEDL area. While the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project included protections for recreational resources, these activities have resulted in some temporary disturbances. Construction of temporary logging roads and log landings have greatly changed the landscape in the area.
In July of 2019, aggressive firefighting efforts contained Museum Fire at nearly 2,000 acres in the MEDL area. There were 8.75 miles of Forest System trails as well as numerous unauthorized trails and routes in the Museum Fire burned area. Most of these trails burned in low severity, but about 22% (2 miles) of trail burned in moderate or high severity through steep terrain. Trail damage is ongoing. In addition to trail damage Mount Elden Lookout Road (FR 557) and the Oldham Trailhead (accesses the West Elden climbing site) were greatly compromised
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The number of tourists to Flagstaff and Northern Arizona tourism has increased over the last several years, leading to a steady increase in recreational use in this area. This increased use is taxing the current trail system and associated facilities. Indicators of overuse include deteriorating condition of system trails, development of unauthorized trails, and increased concerns for impacts to natural resources such as wildlife, watershed and soil conditions, recreational experiences, and vegetation. Previous Planning Efforts In 2013, the Flagstaff Ranger District proposed the original Mt. Elden/Dry Lake Hills Recreation Planning Project which included trail construction, reconstruction, and decommissioning; trailhead consolidation; special uses authorizations; and a hanglider site. We solicited public comments for the Project scoping period from October 31 through November 30, 2013. We mailed and emailed a scoping letter containing a project overview and link to the website to a mailing list of interested parties including: Federally-recognized tribes, relevant local governmental organizations, those who owned property in or near the project area, and those who have previously indicated an interest in this type of project on the Coconino National Forest. We also hosted public information meetings in the local community to share information about the project. We received hundreds of comments in response to the scoping period for this project.
Unfortunately, as we began reviewing feedback received from the public, the decision was made to put the project on hold due to the district’s workload related to Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project and other priorities. However, in 2019, we began working with stakeholders to shift focus back to the recreational needs in this area and work with stakeholders to address the numerous competing interests and requests we heard about from the scoping period in 2013.
Launched in late 2017, the Flagstaff Trail Initiative (FTI) began engaging a diverse mix of public and nonprofit organizations to develop a cross-jurisdictional Flagstaff Regional Trail Strategy with the purpose of improving the quality, connectivity and community support for a sustainable trail system around the Flagstaff region that balances the demand for recreation with the community’s vision for conservation, development, and health. Beginning in 2019, FTI convened a community collaborative called the Mount Elden Dry Lake Working Group. This small group included individuals from broad and diverse interests, they each represented a user group or special interest organization including hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers, equestrians, trail construction professionals, conservation groups, and local municipal (City/County) government representatives. The working group worked for a year to develop a set of recommendation for recreation and trail management in the project area. These recommendations were presented to the Forest Service in the spring of 2020 and can be found on the Flagstaff Trail Initiative website at (http://flagstafftrailsinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Final-MEDL- recommendations-May-2020.pdf). The working group’s recommendations balanced protecting wildlife habitat, environmental resources, and sensitive places while providing broad opportunities for diverse recreational experiences for the community and beyond.
In response to the input we received from comments in 2013, the work of the Mount Elden Dry Lake Hills Working Group, and changed conditions in the project area, we have updated the proposed MEDL Recreation Planning Project and are now seeking additional public input.
Purpose and Need The purpose of the MEDL Recreation Planning project is to develop a premier trail system while responding to ongoing negative impacts from unsustainable recreation on forest resources. Our goal is to
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manage the trail system to improve quality of life for users and support a healthy, happy, and strong community. The desired condition is a trail system that provides diverse opportunities for recreation activities, and a safe and positive experience for everyone. Need: achieve desired conditions and management goals Relevant desired conditions for the Mt. Elden-Dry Lake Hills management area in the Coconino National Forest Land and Resources Management Plan (Forest Plan) are:
• The trail system is designed to be sustainable while balancing user experiences and impacts. • Throughout this area, trailheads provide access to motorized and non-motorized trails. • The Mount Elden/Dry Lake Hills Trail System offers a variety of trail experiences for nonmotorized recreation. • The Mount Elden Environmental Study Area provides interpretive and environmental educational opportunities for students, residents, and forest visitors consistent with other resource desired conditions. Non-motorized trails associated with the Mount Elden Environmental Study Area provide dispersed day-use and safe access. (Forest Plan, page 139)
The Forest Plan also limits outfitter-guide and group special use activities that would adversely affect the character of the Environmental Study Area. Finally, the Forest Plan provides a management approach for this management area that is focused on community partnerships, collaboration, and coordination with local organizations.
The current conditions of trails, trailheads and recreation management in the area need to be improved in order to better achieve the desired recreation setting and resource management goals provided in the Forest Plan. Need: Address poorly designed trails or unauthorized trails, and provide for a well-planned and sustainable trail system Many parts of the MEDL trail system were established as Forest Service trails to keep up with the rapid growth of the Flagstaff area and corresponding trail use in this area. Many of the system trails within the project area were not planned, designed, or built specifically for recreational purposes and therefore, may be very steep and poorly located, causing erosion, lack of user enjoyment, and other resource concerns. For example, Brookbank Trail was an old road built to access the Dry Lakes area, and was constructed with little consideration to impacts on wildlife, water quality, and recreational experience.
In addition, there is a wide-spread creation of unauthorized trails within the project area. Unauthorized trails are purposefully or incidentally created by users without the approval of the Forest Service. These trails can be the result of purposeful construction or through incidental regular use that creates a visible travel route for others to follow. Unauthorized trails are also referred to as “user-created”, “wildcat”, “nonsystem” or “social” trails. Unlike system trails, unauthorized trails do not receive regular, formal maintenance from the Forest Service and are not listed on formal trail maps because they are not part of the authorized trail system. However, unauthorized trails are often included in user generated or third party maps, leading to confusion among users about the acceptability of their use.
A few examples of unauthorized trail creation include: (1) numerous mountain biking trails have been developed, (2) equestrians living in North Peak and McCann Estates have a network of user-created trails
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on the forest coming from their subdivisions, and (3) the neighborhoods adjacent to the base of Mt. Elden near the top of 4th street have created a web of social trails used for dog walking, exercise, and commuting.
The presence of an unauthorized trail often reflects a past or present demand for recreation use or access. Although an unauthorized trail may serve a recreational function that authorized trails do not, they do not take into consideration impacts to forest resources. Many unauthorized trails in the project area are in sensitive wildlife habitat causing negative disturbance or displacement and some trails are causing erosion that is damaging unreplaceable cultural sites. Some unauthorized trails may also pose safety risks for forest visitors due to inherently hazardous conditions from where they are located, lack of informational signs, and lack of routine management.
Due to the proliferation of poorly planned trails, unauthorized trails, and to meet current demand, there is a need to construct, relocate, repair, or decommission certain trails, focusing on sustainability, resilience to changing uses and climate, and connectivity with other trails in the trail system while addressing resource concerns. Need: Provide appropriate trailhead access that is better aligned with demand Trailheads and associated amenities within the project area need to better meet the demand for and distribution of recreation uses. For example trailheads easily accessible from the city need to be expanded to accommodate increasing use and others need to be updated and improved to draw use away from the busiest trailheads. For example upgrading Sandy Seep Trailhead to draw users away from Elden Lookout Trailhead. Also, impromptu parking areas for trail and climbing access should be assessed for potential inclusion as a designated parking site or for decommission / rehabilitation. One example is the ad hoc parking for the West Elden climbing area. This location is where people park to access the climbing area as well as access the convergence of three system trails, making it a potential site to consider for a new trailhead and associated parking area.
The Forest Plan includes a guideline to design and locate trailheads to manage access and to provide interpretive materials to the most visitors possible (Forest Plan, pg. 140). There is a need to change trailhead access to better meet demands, including potential relocation, new construction, consolidation and/or decommissioning. Need: Provide for sustainable special use events in the area To ensure the sustainability and compatibility of special-use permit events in this area, there is a need to identify trails suitable for such activities, including but not limited to mountain bike races and trail running races in compliance with the Forest Plan direction for such events. Need: Update Mt. Elden Environmental Study Area trails signage to provide improved interpretation The Forest Plan states that management activities within the Environmental Study Area should be designed to retain and promote educational and learning opportunities and the Environmental Study Area should be managed to provide for minimal user conflicts (Forest Plan, page 140).
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Proposed Action and Objectives The following proposed action has been developed to meet the project’s purpose and need. The Proposed Action consists of six components:
1. New trail construction (may also include adoption of unauthorized trails) 2. Major trail relocation, reroutes, and improvements 3. Closure and restoration of unauthorized trails 4. Trailhead construction and improvements 5. Special-use trail events 6. Mount Elden Environmental Study Area improvements Figures depicting the proposed action maps are located in Appendix A and referred to in the proposed action descriptions that follow. 1. New Trail Construction Best management practices for trail construction as identified in the Forest Service Trails Handbook and Specifications for Construction and Maintenance of Trails as well as design features to protect Forest resources would be incorporated into trail design and construction. Trail construction may incorporate existing unauthorized trails where appropriate, considering sustainability and natural resource concerns. Locations of proposed trails and reroutes shown on maps are approximate. Listed trail names are conceptual and tentative; a variety of partners and interested parties, including Tribal Partners will be involved in the naming of trails as they become ready for public use.
Equestrian Trail System (See Figures 4 and 5) • Action: Construct up to 10 miles of Forest Service class 2 and/or 31 trai1 designed for2 equestrian use that allow for connections to the Little Elden Springs Horse Campground and provide loop opportunities on the east side of the project area. Opportunities to adopt unauthorized trails and old road beds will be utilized. • Objective: To provide trail connectivity to the Little Elden Springs Horse Camp, Schultz Tank, and surrounding trails to provide loop opportunities for equestrians staying at the horse campground and for horse users living in nearby subdivisions along Highway 89. Provide alternatives to reduce congestion and user conflicts on Little Elden trail.
Elden Base Urban Trail (See Figure 3) • Action: Construct approximately 5 miles of improved hardened surfaced trail as a Class 4 trail or a permitted Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS) trail. This would include portions of the Flagstaff Loop trail and Lower Oldham trail, including the connection to Buffalo Park and Paradise Drive. This trail would begin at Elden Lookout Road, pass nearby Buffalo Park and continue east,
1 Forest service trail class designations are general categories reflecting trail development scale. Each Trail Class has descriptors for the physical characteristics of trails, including tread and traffic flow, obstacles, constructed features and tread elements, signs, and typical recreational environment and experience. 2 “Designed for” denotes the trail design standards that would be used for construction. Trails designed for directional mountain biking or hiking will be signed notifying other users of the intended use.
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terminating at El Paso Drive in Mobile Haven. This would include at least two spur trails connecting to city access point along the base of Mount Elden at Fanning Boulevard and Fourth Street. • Objective: Provide a highly developed trail that connects east and west Flagstaff which serves as a collector trail for Flagstaff residents adjacent to the forest to access National Forest lands. This trail would also reduce confusion in an area with a high number of unauthorized trails.
Highway 89 Urban Trail (See Figure 3) • Action: Construct approximately 1 1/2 miles of improved hardened surfaced trail as a Class 4 trail or a permitted municipal trail from the terminus of the North 89 FUTS Trail near Snowflake Dr. in the Christmas Tree neighborhood north to Sandy Seep Trailhead. This will also include additional highly developed trails from the North 89 FUTS Trail to the Flagstaff Ranger District Office and Elden Lookout Trailhead. • Objective: Provide a highly developed trail that connects rural areas north of Flagstaff into the City of Flagstaff, while consolidating unauthorized trails adjacent to the Christmas Tree area. This trail would provide a safe and efficient opportunity for non-motorized commuting through Flagstaff.
Sandy Seep Loops (See Figure 4) • Action: Construct up to 9 miles of trails creating an area of dense trails providing loops around the east side of Mount Elden. Providing connections between Sandy Seep Trailhead, Christmas Tree, and Fat Man’s Loop Trails. Adopt unauthorized trails and incorporate portions of the old Heart Trail where practical and sustainable. Construct approximately 2 miles of USFS class 2 trail designed for hiking, that would be closed to all other uses up the north side of Mount Elden to connect with Sunset and Elden Lookout Trails. • Objective: Provide a variety of easily accessible trails from Sandy Seep Trailhead to provide quality alternatives to Fat Man’s Loop and Elden Lookout Trails. This would concentrate use and impact while quickly spreading out use away from congested trailheads and dispersing use off of busy trails near Elden Lookout Trailhead while providing for loop opportunities.
Directional Mountain Biking (see Figure 2 and 3) • Action: Construct up to 3 individual trails, providing up to 3 ½ miles of USFS class 2 trail designed for one-way-mountain biking with a high level of challenge, including trail features that increase challenge. Multiple trails would be developed to allow for progression and a variety of experiences and degree of challenge. These trails would be designed for bicycle use and would be signed accordingly to notify other trail users. Some portions of unauthorized trails including “Wassabi” and portions of Upper Oldham Forest System Trail would be utilized where practical and sustainable. • Objective: Redesign and consolidate unauthorized trails including ‘Wassabi’ trail on the west facing slopes below Elden Lookout Road and Oldham Park to provide trails intended for challenging mountain biking that are sustainable and properly located to mitigate natural resource concerns and other issues.
Devil’s Chair Trail (see Figure 2) • Action: Construct up to 5 miles of Forest Service class 2 trail designed for hiking that would be closed to all other uses. This new trail would climb the west slope and traverse past Devil’s Chair and up onto the top of Mount Elden connecting with the Elden Lookout Trail.
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• Objective: To provide a challenging hiking opportunity on the west face of Mount Elden accessible from Buffalo Park and the new Oldham Basin Trailhead to reduce congestion and provide an alternative to the Elden Lookout Trail.
Schultz Creek Loops (See Figure 3) • Action: Construct up to 9 miles of Forest Service class 3 trails designed for multiple uses creating an area of dense trails and loops around the southwest face of Dry Lake Hills, connecting Rocky Ridge and Schultz Creek trails to a new Dry Lake Ridge trail on the top of the Dry Lake Hills. • Objective: Provide a variety of easily accessible trails from the popular trailheads around Schultz Creek. This would concentrate use and impact while quickly spreading out use away from congested trailheads and dispersing use off of Schultz Creek Trail.
Dry Lake Ridge Trail (See Figure 2) • Action: Construct a new trail up to 2 miles in length that traverses the east side of the Dry Lakes to connect Schultz Creek Loops to the new Brookbank Trail alignment. • Objective: Provide scenic opportunities and views by making important connections between two access trails to the top of Dry Lake Hills. This trail would be routed away from sensitive wetland areas, staying near the hill edge, providing excellent views back towards the City of Flagstaff.
Lost Burrito Trail Adoption (See Figure 2) • Action: Adoption of the unauthorized Lost Burrito trail for approximately 2 ½ miles connecting Schultz Creek and Rocky Ridge with the new Dry Lake Ridge Trail. This trail would be Forest Service class 2 trail designed for hiking that would be closed to all other uses. Some major reroutes would be required to bring this trail to a sustainable condition. • Objective: Incorporate a very popular unauthorized trail into the Forest System to perform required maintenance and provide important trail connections and to provide a challenging hiking trail on the south face of Dry Lake Hills.
Ginger Trail Adoption (See Figure 2) • Action: Adoption of the unauthorized Ginger trail for approximately 1 mile connecting the new Brookbank and Rocky Ridge Trails as Forest Service class 2 trail designed for one-way-mountain biking with a high level of challenge, including features that increase challenge. Major reconstruction and relocation will be required to bring this trail to Forest Service Trail standards after post-wildfire damage. • Objective: Incorporate a very popular unauthorized trail into the Forest System to perform required maintenance and provide important trail connections. To provide a designed and challenging descent off the Dry Lake Hills away from congested areas of Schultz Creek.
Little Gnarly Bypass (See Figure 5) • Action: Construct a new trail approximately 1 mile that connects Brookbank trail with Jedi and Schultz Loop trails while bypassing private property at the top of Dry Lake Hills and avoiding administrative roads in the area. • Objective: Make important connections between the west and east sides of Dry Lake Hills while reducing private property trespass. Improve user experience by providing a single track trail and remove the access off of the administrative road known as Little Gnarly trail.
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Jedi Trail Adoption (See Figure 5) • Action: Adoption of the unauthorized Jedi trail for approximately 1 ½ miles connecting Schultz Creek with the new Brookbank Trail alignment. Some minor reroutes would be required to bring this trail to Class 3 trail standards. • Objective: Incorporate a very popular unauthorized trail into the Forest System to perform required maintenance and provide important trail connections.
Red Onion Trail Adoption (See Figure 5) • Action: Adoption of the unauthorized Red Onion trail for approximately 3/4 mile connecting Upper Oldham Trail, Elden Lookout Road, Sunset, and Little Bear Trails. Major reconstruction be required to bring this trail to Class 3 trail standards after post-wildfire damage. • Objective: Incorporate a very popular unauthorized trail into the Forest System to perform required maintenance and provide important trail connections.
Schultz Tank Trail Adoption (See Figure 5) • Action: Adoption of the unauthorized trails around Schultz Tank for approximately 1/2 mile connecting the Schultz Tank Trailhead, Little Elden, and Sunset Trails. This trail would be designed for hikers. • Objective: Provide a single easily identifiable with scenic views around Schultz Tank.
Climb 3 Trail and Temporary Logging Road Adoption (See Figure 5) • Action: Adoption of the unauthorized Climb 3 trail and temporary logging roads for approximately 2 miles connecting Schultz Loop and Little Gnarly with upper portions of Sunset Trail. Some minor reroutes would be required to bring this trail to Class 3 trail standards. • Objective: Incorporate a very popular unauthorized trail into the Forest System to perform required maintenance and provide important trail connections. 2. Trail Relocation and Improvement Where natural resources are a concern, trails would be relocated to provide for resource protection and sustainability. Abandoned trail segments would be closed and rehabilitated. Locations of proposed trails and reroutes shown on maps are approximate.
Brookbank Trail (See Figure 2 and 5) • Action: Relocate approximately 4 ½ miles of Brookbank Trail, removing trail from upper portions of Brookbank Canyon and relocating along the eastern face of Dry Lake Hills. • Objective: Mitigate wildlife concerns in Brookbank Canyon, provide for a sustainable trail system and provide connectivity between the Dry Lake area and the new Oldham Basin Trailhead.
Upper Oldham Trail (See Figure 3) • Action: Relocate approximately 3 ½ miles of Upper Oldham Trail to connect the new Oldham Basin trail to upper areas of Elden Lookout Road and Sunset Trail. • Objective: Address erosion issues, avoid sensitive wildlife habitat and provide for sustainable trail access to the summit of Mount Elden.
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Sunset Trail (See Figure 5) • Action: Relocate approximately ½ mile of Sunset trail near the junction of Brookbank Trail, aligning the trail northwards toward vistas of the Kachina Peaks and reducing the fall line trail between the Sunset summit, Brookbank, and Little Bear trails. • Objective: Address erosion issues and provide a high quality trail with an excellent vista at the summit of the long climb from Schultz Tank.
Elden Lookout Trail (See Map 3) • Action: Relocate and rebuilt approximately ½ mile of Elden Lookout Trail in the steepest places below the summit. • Objective: Address erosion and maintenance issues by reducing the grade and the number of switchbacks.
General Trail Signage • Action: Add, replace, and improve trail signs to inform the public on current and proposed trail use restrictions. This could include reassurance and blaze markers in areas difficult to navigate. These markers on trails connecting with the Arizona National Scenic Trail (ANST) should be sufficiently unique so as not confuse other trails with the designated ANST. • Objective: Increase compliance and safe, sustainable use of system trails and decrease unauthorized trail construction. Encourage learning and appreciation for natural and cultural features of the area to increase awareness and citizen stewardship.
General Trail System • Action: Realign existing system trails where the current location is resulting in resource impacts or cannot be adequately maintained to standard. For example, a segment of a Forest Service class 3 trail that is greater than 12 percent grade for more than 10 percent of the trail’s length which may result in erosion and/or detract from the trail user experience and would not meet the characteristics specified for a class 3 trail. • Objective: Provide for a sustainable trail system, address erosion concerns, and improve trail user experience. 3. Closure and Restoration of Unauthorized Trails • Action: Close, sign, and restore unauthorized trails and roads that are not being incorporated into the Forest Service trail system and are located in sensitive resource areas. This includes, but is not limited to: Cani, Private Reserve, Pickle, and Prom Nite. Restoration activities would include slashing, recontouring, establishing drainage, and vertical mulching of unauthorized trails. • Objective: Mitigate resource concerns and issues, and restrict further use, on unauthorized trails. 4. Trailhead Improvements Trailhead improvements would be incorporated to better serve the public and address resource concerns. Decommissioned or relocated trailheads would be closed and rehabilitated in coordination with trailhead improvements or other projects that occur in the area. Improvements to trailheads would include adding visitor amenities and could make them eligible as a standard amenity fee site under the Federal Lands
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Recreation Enhancement Act in the future. Fee sites would be approved in an independent process including in-depth public engagement separate from this project.
Schultz Tank Trailhead Improvements (see Figure 5) • Action: Replace vault toilet at Schultz Tank Trailhead and re-surface the parking area. Sign and designate trails around the water tank. • Objective: Update facilities to meet demand and improve user experience, and reduce braiding and confusion around Schultz Tank.
Relocate Little Elden Trailhead (See Figure 4) • Action: Relocate the Little Elden Trailhead at a location east of the winter gate on FR 556. • Objective: To provide improved year-round access from Highway 89 and reduce traffic impacts to FR 556. New parking lot would meet engineering standards and provide adequate turn around for vehicles with horse trailers.
Relocate Schultz Creek Trailhead (See Figure 2) • Action: Relocate the Schultz Creek Trailhead to a ridge top location on the west side of FR 420 and decommission and close the existing trailhead and access road in the drainage. Relocate the winter gate farther north of the trailhead. This will be a small primitive parking area. • Objective: To provide improved year-round access and reduce road maintenance needs and mitigate sedimentation and erosion into Schultz Creek from the existing trailhead location.
Oldham Basin Trailhead (See Figure 2) • Action: Construct a trailhead with a restroom near the junctions of Lower Oldham and Rocky Ridge at an existing impacted area for a timber log landing and recent road construction staging area. • Objective: To provide a formal trailhead parking area at the convergence of three Forest Service trails (Lower Oldham, Rocky Ridge, Brookbank) and adjacent to a climbing area (West Elden). Lower elevations and exposure will provide opportunities for improved year round access opportunities.
The “Y” Trailhead (See Figure 2) • Action: Construct a trailhead with a restroom and other visitor amenities somewhere near the junctions of Schultz Creek and Rocky Ridge trails. This trailhead would be near the City of Flagstaff Open Space parcel. • Objective: To address a lack of formalized parking on adjacent lands, provide a formal trailhead parking area to support the Schultz Loops that is easily accessed from the City of Flagstaff. Lower elevations and exposure will provide opportunities for improved year round access opportunities.
Elden Lookout Trailhead Expansion (see Figure 4) • Action: Expand parking area for Elden Lookout trailhead accessing Elden Lookout and Fatman’s Loop trails to accommodate 50 vehicles from the current 20 vehicles. Add a vault toilet, picnic facilities, and other visitor amenities as needed. • Objective: To provide for user safety and to accommodate increasing demand.
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Sandy Seep Trailhead Expansion (see Figure 4) • Action: Expand parking area for Elden Lookout trail to accommodate 30 vehicles from the current 10 vehicles. Add a vault toilet, picnic facilities, and other visitor amenities as needed. • Objective: To provide for user safety and to accommodate increasing demand, and provide an attractive alternative to the nearby and congested Elden Lookout Trailhead. 5. Special-Use Trail Events • Action: Designate suitable routes for recreation events on system trails that minimize impacts to wildlife, archeological sites, and other natural resources. Identify mitigations for sponsored, permitted non-motorized trail events, including limiting group size and number of events during certain seasons and periods (see proposed design features). • Objective: Provide improved and consistent management of special use events in the Mt. Elden/Dry Lake Hills and mitigate impacts to natural and cultural resources, while streamlining special use permit application, processing, and administration. 6. Mount Elden Environmental Study Area Improvements (See Figure 3) • Action: Relocate interpretive trails and signs as needed, and update signage for historic trails such as the Beale Wagon Road. Provide for opportunities for interpretation of interesting natural phenomena, resource management, and natural and human history along the trail corridor. Work with cultural and tribal partners to develop interpretation and awareness of the significance of the area. • Objective: Improve the educational opportunity within the Environmental Study Area by providing a better visitor experience. Encourage learning and appreciation for natural and cultural features of the area to increase awareness and citizen stewardship. Proposed Design Features The proposed action is designed to comply with law, regulation, policy and Forest Plan standards and guidelines. Design features would be incorporated into the project to protect forest resources of recreation opportunity and experience, soil, water, scenery values, cultural resources, wildlife and aquatic habitat, and rare plants. Mitigation measures and best management practices would be implemented to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive plants, to protect threatened, endangered and sensitive wildlife habitat and plant species, to protect heritage resources, and to protect public health and safety during project implementation. Specific design features include:
• Archeological surveys and clearances would be obtained prior to ground disturbing activities. • All sites unevaluated to or eligible to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) would be avoided by all ground-disturbing activities. • Archaeological site conditions should be monitored after project implementation to address potential looting and vandalism due to increased traffic and visibility. • Should any previously unidentified cultural materials be discovered during project implementation, work must cease immediately and the Forest Archaeologist must be contacted to initiate the consultation process as outlined in the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Regulations (36 CFR Part 800.13).
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• Unauthorized trails identified for closure and restoration will be evaluated for inventory and survey needs prior to implementation. • Where existing or current survey is not already available, Mexican spotted owl surveys would be coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine occupancy of owls in the project area during implementation. Surveys include the project footprint plus ½ mile beyond the perimeter of the project boundary. • To minimize disturbance to the Mexican spotted owl, any construction or maintenance of new or existing trails would not occur within 0.25 mile of known nest or roost locations during the breeding season (March 1st to August 31st). If the nest/roost site is unknown, where feasible, these activities would not occur within 0.25 mile of the boundary of designated nesting areas (known as a Protected Activity Centers or PACs). • Minimize removal of key components of Mexican spotted owl habitat during project activities including hardwoods and large trees, snags and logs, consistent with the Recovery Plan. • Project implementation activities would be coordinated with the District wildlife biologist to minimize potential impacts to nesting raptors (Northern goshawk, golden eagle, and peregrine falcon). • New construction would avoid impacts to sensitive plant species. Prior to construction, coordination would occur with the district botanist or forest botanist to ensure that route alignments are chosen that would avoid or minimize impacts to sensitive plants. • For new construction, decommissioning and restoration, all equipment to be used off of system roads would be cleaned prior to entering Forest Service lands. This is to reduce the likelihood of introduction or spread of non-native invasive plants. In all project related contracts, include provisions that require equipment cleaning before project implementation. • Avoid routing trail through known infestations of non-native invasive weeds or treat them3 before putting in trail. • Where available, any plant materials used for decommissioning and restoration would be from on-site sources (chipped wood, etc.). All plant material from off-site sources (straw, mulch, etc.) must be certified weed free. • Resource protection measures are put into place to minimize nonpoint source pollution as outlined in the intergovernmental agreement between the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the Southwestern Region of the Forest Service (2008). • Resource protection measures for soil and watershed would follow best management practices as identified in the Soil and Watershed Conservation Practices handbook and in the 2012 “National Best Management Practices for Water Quality Management on National Forest System Lands, Volume 1: National Core BMP Technical Guide”4. More specifically, : 1. Use best management practice techniques to minimize disruption of natural hydrologic flowpaths and sediment movement from impacts of trail construction and use, including but not limited to: outsloped road and trail surface; leadout ditches and relief culverts; energy dissipators on culverts; vegetating cut and fill slopes; riprap installation; rolling grade; and dips and fords.
3 Non-native invasive weed treatments would be consistent with the Record of Decision for Integrated Treatment of Noxious or Invasive Weeds within the Coconino, Kaibab, and Prescott National Forests 4 Available at: https://www.fs.fed.us/naturalresources/watershed/pubs/FS_National_Core_BMPs_April2012.pdf
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2. Locate new trail segments at on hill contours as much as possible. If having to cut and fill, preferred drainage is outsloping trail. Utilize additional drainage features outlined in #1, above, in design and maintenance of the trail as warranted to minimize impacts of trail construction and trail location on sediment production and disruption of natural hydrologic flowpaths. 3. Minimize cut and fill in construction of trails having poor soil strength. Locate trails on contour and in as flat a position as possible. If cut and fill are needed, utilize rock rip rap to strengthen outslopes to minimize impacts of trail construction and trail location on sediment production by limiting failure of trail. 4. Maximize Location of new trail segments away from drainages in an upland position. Minimize drainage crossings and try to cross drainage as close to perpendicular as possible. Utilize #1, above, in design and maintenance of the trail. This practice would minimize sediment delivery to intermittent and ephemeral streams from impacts of trail construction and trail location on severe erosion hazard sites and on impaired soil sites. • Limit use of National Forest System land for event staging. Limit events during mid-June and early July due to fire danger/restrictions. Do not permit events during summer holiday weekends (Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day) to prevent conflict with access to the area by the public. Manage the timing and location of events to minimize conflicts with day use of trails by the public near residential areas. Consider timing and location of events to minimize conflict with other management activities (timber, range, or other permitted uses). • Avoid permitting new recreation events that may result in adverse effects within the Elden Environmental Study Area to comply with the Forest Plan direction for Mt. Elden Management Area (Forest Plan, page 140). • Manage the timing, number, and location of new recreation events within Mexican spotted owl habitat to minimize effects to nesting owls. • Trails passing through cattle allotment and pasture fencing will have proper gates installed that accommodate equestrians and pack stock, gates should be at least 6 feet wide and designed to be closed easily from horseback.
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Appendix A – Maps
Figure 1. Mt. Elden / Dry Lake Hills Recreation Planning Vicinity Map
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Figure 2. Mt. Elden / Dry Lake Hills Recreation Planning - Southwest
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Figure 3. Mt. Elden / Dry Lake Hills Recreation Planning - Southeast
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Figure 4. Mt. Elden / Dry Lake Hills Recreation Planning - East
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Figure 5. Mt. Elden / Dry Lake Hills Recreation Planning - North
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