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U.S. Air Force Academy Adventure-Based Experiential U.S. Air Force Academy Adventure-Based United States Department of Experiential Learning Agriculture Forest Service Final Environmental Assessment December 2019 Pikes Peak Ranger District, Pike National Forest El Paso County, Colorado Prepared by: HDR Inc. 5555 Tech Center Drive, Suite 310 Colorado Springs, CO 80919-2371 For More Information Contact: Oscar Martinez District Ranger 601 South Weber Street Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (719) 477-4202 Email: [email protected] In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. U.S. Air Force Academy ABEL Pikes Peak Ranger District, Pike National Forest Table of Contents Common Abbreviations................................................................................................... iii 1.0 Background ...............................................................................................................1 1.1 Location of the Project Area ............................................................................1 1.2 Purpose of and Need for the Proposed Action .................................................3 1.3 Forest Plan Direction ........................................................................................3 1.4 Decision to be Made .........................................................................................5 1.5 Public Involvement ...........................................................................................5 1.6 Issues ................................................................................................................6 2.0 Proposed Action and Alternatives ...........................................................................8 2.1 Proposed Action ...............................................................................................8 2.1.1 ABEL Program Overview .................................................................. 8 2.1.2 Proposed Action Description ............................................................. 8 2.2 No Action Alternative ....................................................................................14 2.3 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis ..................14 2.3.1 Saylor Park ....................................................................................... 15 2.3.2 Fort Carson....................................................................................... 15 2.4 Alternatives Carried Forward for Analysis ....................................................17 3.0 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................18 3.1 Spatial and Temporal Context for Effects Analysis .......................................18 3.2 Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Activities Relevant to Cumulative Effects Analysis ......................................................................18 3.3 Vegetation and Soils .......................................................................................20 3.3.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................... 20 3.3.2 Alternative 1: Proposed Action ........................................................ 24 3.3.3 Alternative 2: No Action .................................................................. 25 3.4 Wildlife ...........................................................................................................25 3.4.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................... 25 3.4.2 Alternative 1: Proposed Action ........................................................ 29 3.4.3 Alternative 2: No Action .................................................................. 31 3.5 Special Status Species ....................................................................................31 3.5.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................... 31 3.5.2 Alternative 1: Proposed Action ........................................................ 40 3.5.3 Alternative 2: No Action .................................................................. 43 3.6 Heritage Resources .........................................................................................43 3.6.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................... 43 3.6.2 Alternative 1: Proposed Action ........................................................ 43 3.6.3 Alternative 2: No Action .................................................................. 43 3.7 Recreation .......................................................................................................44 3.7.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................... 44 i U.S. Air Force Academy ABEL Pikes Peak Ranger District, Pike National Forest 3.7.2 Alternative 1: Proposed Action ........................................................ 50 3.7.3 Alternative 2: No Action .................................................................. 51 4.0 Effects Relative to the Finding of No Significance Elements ..............................52 4.1 Context ...........................................................................................................52 4.2 Intensity ..........................................................................................................52 5.0 References ................................................................................................................56 Appendix A. Agencies and Persons Consulted ..............................................................63 Preparers and Contributors .......................................................................................63 USDA Forest Service .................................................................................... 63 U.S. Air Force ............................................................................................... 63 HDR – Contractor Support ............................................................................ 63 Federal State and Local Agencies .............................................................................64 Others ........................................................................................................................64 List of Figures Figure 1. Proposed ABEL Project Area and Vicinity ..........................................................2 Figure 2. Pike National Forest Management Areas .............................................................4 Figure 3. Project Area Trails and Waypoints .......................................................................9 Figure 4. ABEL Example Support Camp Location ...........................................................11 Figure 5. ABEL Program Alternative Locations ...............................................................16 Figure 6. Upper Monument Creek Vegetative Treatment Project Planning Areas ...........20 Figure 7. Project Area Vegetation .....................................................................................23 Figure 8. Mexican Spotted Owl Suitable Habitat in the Project Area .... Error! Bookmark not defined. Figure 9. National Forest System Roads and Trails in the Project Area Error! Bookmark not defined. Figure 10. ROS Classes within the Project Area ...............................................................49 List of Tables Table 1. Vegetation Types in the Project Area ..................................................................22 Table 2. BCC Species that May Occur in the Project Area ...............................................27 Table 3. Federally Listed Species Excluded from Further Evaluation ..............................32 Table 4. Federally Listed Species with Potential
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