THE SAN GABRIEL RIVER CONFLUENCE WITH CATTLE CANYON IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT

SCOPING MEETING OVERVIEW PROJECT LOCATION The Angeles National Forest [ANF] San Gabriel Mountains The project site is located approximately 14 miles north National Monument and Watershed Conservation of the city of Azusa on federal land managed by the ANF Authority [WCA] welcomes you to this public scoping San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. The project meeting for the San Gabriel River Confluence with site includes an approximately 1.5-mile long portion of Cattle Canyon Improvements Project (Project), the East Fork of the San Gabriel River, located along East otherwise known as the East Fork Project. Fork Road and Camp Bonita Prairie Fork Road. Recently, a proposed action has been developed for the PROJECT PURPOSE & NEED Project to provide recreational improvements, focused on enhancing access and the quality of recreation, and Recreational use is highly concentrated within areas to conduct ecological restoration within an existing of the project site. This heavy use combined with the Concentrated Use Area located along the East Fork San lack of facilities has resulted in degraded conditions. Gabriel River. Now, under laws known as the National In response, the Project has been proposed to better Environmental Policy Act and the California Environmental manage recreation use and balance the needs for Quality Act, ANF & WCA are required to prepare an resource protection. Environmental Impact Statement / Environmental Impact The purpose and need: Report [EIS/EIR] to disclose and inform stakeholders and • Provide recreation facilities and infrastructure that decision makers of potential environmental impacts that are high quality, well-maintained, safe, accessible could result from implementing the Project. and consistent with visitors’ expectations. We have invited you to this meeting in order to provide • Shift and concentrate recreational use to certain information about the Project, to answer your questions, areas in order to minimize adverse effects over a and to request your assistance in identifying the scope broader area. and content to be included in the EIS/EIR. Among other • Promote stewardship of public land by providing feedback, ANF & WCA seeks comments on: quality and sustainable recreation opportunities that • What environmental issues should be analyzed? result in increased visitor satisfaction. • Are there alternatives that should be evaluated that • Allow for better management of the recreation will meet the purpose and need for the project? resources on the Forest. • What mitigation measures would help avoid or • Improve riparian habitat conditions in certain areas minimize any negative impacts? and make progress toward enhancing stream habitat The meeting room has been organized as described on conditions by restoring vegetation, minimizing the backside of this sheet. Please visit each of our four invasive plants and noxious weed presence, and meeting stations, taking time to ask questions. Then, developing access management strategies. help shape this EIS/EIR by submitting your comments. SUMMARY OF PROPOSED ACTION The proposed action is to protect and restore the multi-use areas for future public enjoyment. Enhancements are depicted on the Final Conceptual Plan [see below] and include establishment of parking spaces, development of new picnic areas, trails, river access points and upgrades to existing facilities, improvements to paved and unpaved roadways, and restoration of riparian and upland vegetation communities. A full description of the proposed action is available at the ‘Comment Station’ for this meeting, and on the following websites: www.fs.usda.gov/projects/angeles/landmanagement/projects or www.wca.ca.gov/cattle_canyon

FINALLEGEND CONCEPTUAL PLAN HEATON FLAT AREA River access points Interpretive areas 1 Enhanced picnic area with Restrooms improved trailhead, interpretive 1 Designated picnic area sign, new restroom & river Trailhead access COYOTE FLAT, OVERLOOK, Crosswalk FIRESTATION & CANYON AREAS USFS visitor kiosk Loading area/shuttle stop 1 Developed picnic area & new Paved road restroom with maintenance access Trail and/or Maintenance access road CONFLUENCE AREA road East Fork Scenic Trail 1 Parking Scenic overlook with 2 Scenic overlook with planters, 3 Expansion of existing Oaks Picnic Area, East Fork Eldoradoville interpretive seatwalls, native tree plantings, including more sites, larger tables, 2 3 Existing Cattle Canyon Bridge element, East Fork Scenic monument sign, “Geology Hut” native tree plantings, new restrooms, a with new pedestrian bridge Trail interpretive sign interpretive building, USFS visitor group BBQ area, & botanical interpretive Project boundary 1 6 kiosk, and perimeter path, East area. Existing parking con guration is 2 River access and new single 4 Fork Scenic Trail interpretive sign retained. restroom 5 3 Camp Bonita Road turnaround, 4 River access points with parking, native 3 Pedestrian bridge (on west loading area/shuttle stop, cross tree plantings, East Fork Scenic Trail, side of existing bridge) and d R walk, Heaton Flat trailhead, new USFS Visitor Kiosk, picnic area, new s shuttle stop k restroom For restrooms and loading area/shuttle e i r i stop, East Fork Scenic Trail interpretive a 4 r Portions of road are 4 P Developed parking area with native a E st sign ta Fo realigned to accommodate rk ni tree plantings, parking kiosk, bus o R B d East Fork Scenic Trail . p parking, new restroom & picnic 5 Botanical interpretive site 1 m a area C

East Fork 5 Stairs from parking area lead 4 4 1 across boardwalk bridge to

OAKS AREAS 2 5 3 Botanical Interpretive Trail trailhead 3 2 1 Beginning of East Fork Scenic Trail 1 2 6 Stairway leading from East Fork JUNCTION AREA Scenic Overlook to Coyote Flat 2 River access point with parking, native tree plantings, East Fork Scenic Trail, new 1 Three way stop with emergency vehicle turnaround restrooms, East Fork Scenic Trail interpretive and lockable gate to close Camp Bonita Road sign

2 Portions of road are realigned to accommodate East Fork Scenic Trail 0’ 300’ 700’

Cattle Canyon Project . 140225 SOURCE:YOUR BlueGreen GUIDE Consulting TO THIS EIS/EIR SCOPING MEETING Figure 2-2 Conceptual Site Plan Welcome! About the Project Get the lay of the land for View images of the site while displays, locate the project we present the purpose and site, and understand how your need for the project. comments will help shape the draft EIS/EIR.

Stations Introduction to the Comment Proposed Action Help shape the draft EIS/EIR by Listen to a short presentation submitting your comments on summarizing the proposed environmental issues, feasible action. alternatives and potential mitigation measures.