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White Mountain National Forest Wild River Valley Trails Repair Project United States Department of Township of Beans Purchase, Agriculture Coos County, NH Forest Forest Service 30-Day Comment Eastern Report Region Prepared by the Androscoggin Ranger District February 2014 National Mountain Highwater Trail following Tropical Storm Irene - September 2011 For Information Contact: Travis Pellerin Androscoggin Ranger District White Mountain National Forest 300 Glen Road Gorham, NH 03581 Phone: 603 466-2713 White Fax: 603 466-2856 http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/whitemount ain/landmanagement/projects Wild River Valley Trails Repair Project – 30-Day Comment Report This document is available in large print. Contact the Androscoggin Ranger District White Mountain National Forest 603-466-2713 Federal Relay 711 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720- 5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Printed on Recycled Paper 2 Wild River Valley Trails Repair Project – 30-Day Comment Report 3 Wild River Valley Trails Repair Project – 30-Day Comment Report 4 Wild River Valley Trails Repair Project – 30-Day Comment Report Introduction The Androscoggin Ranger District of the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) is seeking your input on a proposal to relocate approximately 0.5 mile of hiking trail and to maintain a hiking trail bridge in the Wild River Valley area. Sections of the Highwater Trail were consumed by the Wild River during Tropical Storm Irene in August of 2011. Following Irene and again after Tropical Storm Sandy in October of 2012, the riverbank supporting the southeastern abutment of the Moriah Brook Trail suspension bridge crossing the Wild River showed an increased extent of erosion. The proposal includes relocating and reconstructing segments of the Highwater Trail and placing rock along the eroded riverbank adjacent to the southeastern abutment of the Moriah Brook Trail suspension bridge. The proposal does not include any project work within the Wild River Wilderness. This report includes the purpose and need for the project, a description of the proposed action, the decision to be made, and information on how you can submit comments on this project to the Forest Service. Background In August of 2011 the higher peaks of the Wild River watershed received as much as 14 inches of rainfall from Tropical Storm Irene, causing flooding and substantial resource and infrastructure damage along several streams including the Wild River. The flood water from these streams washed trees, boulders, and gravel downstream. Stream water overflowed onto adjacent trails, eroded stream banks, and inundated bridges and culverts. The Highwater Trail and the riverbank at the Moriah Brook Trail suspension bridge sustained extensive damage from the overwhelming waters of the Wild River. Segments of the Highwater Trail were washed away completely. The riverbank supporting the southeastern abutment of the Moriah Brook Trail suspension bridge was heavily scoured and eroded during this event and again as a result of Tropical Storm Sandy in October of 2012. The Highwater Trail follows along the northwestern flank of the Wild River from the trail bridge crossing at Hastings near the intersection of ME State Rt. 113 and Forest Road 12 (Wild River Rd.) for 9.7 miles to it’s junction with the Black Angel 5 Wild River Valley Trails Repair Project – 30-Day Comment Report and Wild River Trails in the Wild River Wilderness. At 5.3 miles the Highwater Trail intersects the Shelburne Trail and at 6.7 miles intersects the Moriah Brook Trail at the suspension bridge. From a point 200 feet southwest of the suspension bridge to the junction with the Black Angel and Wild River trails, the Highwater Trail is within the Wild River Wilderness. Use of the trail is low, mainly used by anglers and by hikers of the Shelburne, Black Angel, or Wild River trails seeking an alternate route to cross the Wild River at the Moriah Brook Trail suspension bridge during periods of high water. The Highwater Trail is also occcaisionally used by mountain bike enthusiasts. It is a scenic ride along the banks of the Wild River when combined with the Wild River Road in a loop tour with 2 radically different experiences: the Highwater Trail is a rough-and-tumble, physically demanding single track (including several feeder streams with unrideable washouts requiring the rider to carry a bike across those sections) while the gentle Wild River Road courses along easy grades suitable for all ability levels. Each end of the loop is a crossing over the Wild River, the Moriah Brook Trail suspension bridge and the newly reconstructed Hastings bridge. Highwater Trail along the Wild River following Tropical Storm Irene – September 2011 6 Wild River Valley Trails Repair Project – 30-Day Comment Report The Moriah Brook Trail begins at an intersection with the Wild River Trail approximately 0.3 mile southwest of Wild River Campground. At about 200 feet to the west the trail crosses over the Wild River on the Moriah Brook Trail suspension bridge and conjoins with the Highwater Trail for 0.3 mile. The trails then diverge and the Moriah Brook Trail climbs northwest another 5.2 miles to the Carter-Moriah Trail (part of the Appalachian Trail) between North Carter Mountain and Mt. Moriah. From a point 200 feet southwest of the suspension bridge to 200 feet south of the junction with the Carter-Moriah Trail, the Moriah Brook Trail is within the Wild River Wilderness. The trail follows the footprint of an old railroad bed and sees moderate use by backpackers and day hikers. Several dispersed campsites are located along the trail and the scenic Moriah Gorge is accessed just over 1.0 mile up the trail and is visited by many hikers. Opportunities exist for backpackers to hike different loops within the Wild River Wilderness using this trail. The trail’s close proximity to Wild River Campground affords campers a scenic day hike opportunity to explore the gorge or experience the solitude of the Wild River Wilderness. Moriah Brook Trail suspension bridge southeastern abutment area – November 2013 7 Wild River Valley Trails Repair Project – 30-Day Comment Report The 140 foot long Moriah Brook Trail suspension bridge crossing the Wild River was constructed in 1985. It is located approximately 0.3 mile southwest of Wild River Campground and less than 100 yards west from the Moriah Brook Trail’s intersection with the Wild River Trail. This bridge and the trail bridge at Hastings are the only bridged trail crossings of the Wild River; all other trail crossings require fording the river, which can be difficult or impossible when the river level is elevated. In addition to providing access to hiking trails and the Wild River Wilderness on the northwestern side of the river, the bridge itself provides a scenic viewpoint of the river and nearby mountains. Project Area The project area includes: 6 segments (totaling 0.5 mile) of the Highwater Trail along a distance of approximately 2.5 miles heading northeast from its junction with the Moriah Brook Trail toward the crossing of Martins Brook. The Moriah Brook Trail suspension bridge and approximately 150 feet of the Wild River bank adjacent to the eastern bridge abutment. To allow for equipment access to the suspension bridge, the following areas are also included: Approximately 200 feet of the Moriah Brook Trail from the suspension bridge to the Wild River Trail. 0.3 mile of the Wild River Trail along the old railroad bed from the junction with the Moriah Brook Trail to the vehicle turnaround at the end of the Wild River Campground road. According to the Forest Plan, Appendix C, the Wild River is potentially eligible for designation under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Within the project area, segments of the river are eligible to be classified as Wild or as Recreational. 8 Wild River Valley Trails Repair Project – 30-Day Comment Report Management Direction The project area is composed of lands that are administratively designated by the WMNF Land and Resource Management Plan as Management Area 2.1— General Forest Management. Part of the purpose of lands under this designation is to: 1. Provide high quality sawtimber and other timber products on a sustained yield basis. 2. Provide a balanced mix of habitats for wildlife species. 3. Provide opportunities for a full mix of recreation opportunities, from low-use hiking trails to highly developed campgrounds, and ROS (Recreation Opportunities Spectrum) objectives, varying from urban to semi-primitive motorized in different locations and sometimes varying by season or presence of management activities. 4. Manage high-use or highly developed recreation areas to acceptable social and ecological standards; manage to retain some low-use and less developed areas. Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines for Management Area 2.1 that are applicable to this project include: Recreation management activities will match the ROS Class objectives provided in this management area. Recreation management activities themselves should not drive the ROS Class from a less developed to a more developed Class. Purpose and Need for Action The Highwater Trail and Moriah Brook Trail sustained major damage caused by the flood waters of the Wild River as a result of heavy rains from Tropical Storms Irene and Sandy.
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