FOREST SUPERVISOR’S CLOSURE ORDERS

RECREATION AND VISUALS RESOURCE REPORT

PREPARED BY:

Mark Engler Acting Recreation Program Manager with Matt Able Acting Recreation Program Manager

Daniel Boone National Forest

February 24, 2015 Updated April 20, 2015

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Forest Supervisor’s Closure Orders Recreation and Visual Resources Report

Table of Contents

Introduction ...... 1 Proposed Action and Alternatives ...... 1

Affected Environment ...... 2

Existing Condition ...... 2 Desired Condition ...... 3 Environmental Consequences ...... 4

Alternative 1 – No Action ...... 4 Alternative 2 – Proposed Action ...... 5 Summary ...... 6

Appendices

Appendix A - References...... 6 Appendix B - Developed Recreation Sites by District, National Forest ...... 6 Appendix C - Daniel Boone National Forest Trails ...... Error! Bookmark not defined. Appendix D - Location ...... 10

i Forest Supervisor’s Closure Orders Recreation and Visual Resources Report

INTRODUCTION This analysis will focus on the potential impacts of the proposed Forest Supervisor’s Closure Orders (Orders) on the recreation and visual resources of the Daniel Boone National Forest (DBNF). Some of the prohibitions included in the proposal focus on modifying human behavior to provide a safe experience for visitors while providing protection for the natural resources on national forest system lands (NFS).

PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES The proposed action, which would provide an indefinite duration until rescinded for the 12 prohibitions described below and a no-action alternative were considered in this report. This is a predominantly administrative action where no ground disturbance would take place. The Orders would be enforceable at the locations specified by the map or list that would accompany the Order. A vicinity map (Appendix E) and tables of NFS developed recreation sites (e.g. campgrounds, horse camps,

Appendix B), and NFS trails (Error! Reference source not found.) are located at the end of this document. Each Order would remain in place until amended or terminated by the Forest Supervisor. Additional Orders already in place and the associated prohibitions can be found on the DBNF’s website (http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/dbnf/alerts-notices). The proposed project is an activity implementing a land management plan and is subject to pre-decisional objection process at 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B.

NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE

Under this alternative, no action would be taken at this time. Existing Orders would be allowed to expire and would not be renewed.

PROPOSED ACTION ALTERNATIVE

The Daniel Boone National Forest Supervisor proposes to authorize Closure Orders of an indefinite duration for the 12 prohibitions described below.

RECREATIONAL PROHIBITIONS: 1. The use of gasoline or diesel powered motorcraft would be prohibited in the non-motorized areas of , Carrington Lake, Rebel Trace Lake, Clear Creek Lake, a portion of Ramey Creek, and a portion of Scott Creek on the Cumberland Ranger District. Electric trolling motors would be permitted in the listed lakes, and would be exempt from this Order. This prohibition has recently expired. 2. Camping in violation of posted signs would be prohibited across the DBNF. Signs are frequently posted to give visitors some guidelines for camping. Examples include, but are not limited to camp site limitations, hazardous conditions (e.g. fire, flooding). This prohibition has recently expired. 3. Riding, hitching, tethering or hobbling a horse or other saddle or pack animal in violation of posted instructions would be prohibited. Posted instructions may limit the locations where saddle or pack animals may be used and rested; the instructions might also be a closure due to hazardous conditions (e.g. fire, flooding). This prohibition, applicable solely to NFS horse camps, has recently expired. This proposal would apply this prohibition to those horse camps as well as NFS campgrounds and NFS trailheads. Page | 1

Forest Supervisor’s Closure Orders Recreation and Visual Resources Report

4. Climbing or rappelling within 300 feet of Sky Bridge, Gray’s Arch, Nada Tunnel or Chimney Top Rock overlook in the area of the Cumberland Ranger District would be prohibited. This prohibition has recently expired. 5. Climbing, rappelling or otherwise attempting to ascend or descend from cliffs, arches or other rock formations would be prohibited. The applicable areas for this prohibition are the Bee Rock Overlook on the London Ranger District, and both Natural Arch Scenic Area and Three Forks of Beaver Overlook on the Stearns Ranger District. This prohibition is currently in effect under a soon- to-expire Order. This prohibition has recently expired. 6. Shortcutting a switchback on trails in the DBNF would be prohibited. This prohibition has recently expired.

NATURAL RESOURCE PROHIBITION 7. Entry into areas closed for the protection of endangered, threatened, rare, unique or vanishing species of plants, animals, birds or fish on and around Cave Run Lake and would be prohibited. This prohibition has recently expired. 8. The use of metal detectors, electronic apparatuses, or any other device for the purpose of locating any metal object. This prohibition would be a new one for the DBNF, and would apply forestwide excluding the Twin Knobs and Zilpo Recreation Area swimming beaches.

TRANSPORTATION PROHIBITIONS 9. Using a Forest System Road for commercial hauling without first obtaining a permit or authorization would be prohibited across the DBNF. This prohibition has recently expired.

AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

EXISTING CONDITION The Daniel Boone National Forest is considered an urban forest, primarily due to its proximity to large cities and populations. The majority of National Forest visitors originate from major cities such as Cincinnati, Columbus, Indianapolis, Lexington and Louisville. Over 5 million annual visitors make recreation one of its largest of multiple uses. The Daniel Boone National Forest offers a wide variety of developed and dispersed recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, picnicking, backpacking, rock climbing, motorized and non-motorized boating, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, off-highway vehicle riding, mountain biking and sightseeing. Recreational use continues to be in high demand and this trend is likely to continue. Within the Forest, various conditions exist with regard to recreational resources. The Forest strives to provide for a safe and enjoyable visitor opportunity at developed recreation sites and dispersed recreation areas. Developed recreation sites include such areas as campgrounds, picnic and scenic overlooks. Dispersed recreation provides a more natural recreational setting, often with minimal facilities or site improvements. These sites can be considered more primitive in nature due to a lack of development. Ultimately, visitor use must be managed within the limits of identified capacities. Today’s developed recreation sites are designed and managed to encourage positive human interaction as well as interaction between humans and the environment. Though recreational activities can adversely affect Forest resources

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in a variety of ways, a mix of recreational opportunities that responds to increasing and changing demands can also lead to and help promote adequate natural resource and environmental protection. Compatible recreational activities are reviewed and considered on the Daniel Boone National Forest, since most visitors to the Forest enjoy participating in a variety of recreational activities. An emphasis on maintenance and rehabilitation of recreation areas is an ongoing task and such regulatory closure orders have been implemented in the past to help protect these valuable resources from damage, misuse or unsafe acts.

DESIRED CONDITION The desired future condition of developed recreation sites is to provide a safe and enjoyable visitor experience, and to manage their facilities and other improvements designed for human activities so as not to exceed site capability, but to provide at least a minimum level of human needs.

The desired condition for dispersed recreation sites is to provide a safer visitor experience while protecting the natural resources under the care of the DBNF. In terms of recreation and visual resources, this proposal would work towards the following forestwide goals described in the 2004 Land and Resource Management Plan for the Daniel Boone National Forest (Forest Plan):

• Goal 7 - Provide a sustainable mix of desired uses, valued characteristics, and services to improve the long-term benefit to local communities and the public (Forest Plan, p. 2-15); • Goal 7.2 - The Forest’s Scenic Integrity Objectives will determine actions needed to maintain or improve the scenic integrity of an area where activity is proposed. Table C - 5 in Appendix C identifies the initial Scenic Integrity Objectives for each prescription based upon the existing inventory map located in the Forest Supervisor’s Office. The map will be updated as site specific analysis is conducted (Forest Plan, p. 2-15); • Goal 7.4 - Incorporate management practices that reduce and/or alleviate negative human/wildlife interactions (Forest Plan, p.2-15); • Goal 11 Provide habitat to sustain wildlife populations suitable for recreational pursuits such as viewing, photographing, hunting, and fishing (Forest Plan, p. 2-16); • Goal 15.1 Enhance public awareness of, and appreciation for, the Forest’s natural and heritage resources and their management, to foster their wise use and conservation (Forest Plan, p. 2-19).

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ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES

SPATIAL CONTEXT FOR EFFECTS ANALYSIS

The geographical context for the analysis of recreation and visual resource is the entire DBNF, which is approximately 708,000 non-contiguous acres. However, several prohibitions pertain to relatively small areas of the Daniel Boone National Forest. For example, there is a prohibition applicable only to the Chimney Top Rock overlook. Other proposed prohibitions apply Forest wide, which includes all NFS lands located on the DBNF, including the Cumberland, London, Stearns and Redbird Ranger Districts. One example of a Forest Wide closure order is the prohibition on Camping in violation of posted signs. For the purpose of analysis, this, and any other small sites with prohibitions will be analyzed at the forest level to properly incorporate all prohibitions.

TEMPORAL CONTEXT FOR EFFECTS ANALYSIS

The temporal context for analyzing potential impacts to recreation and visual resources is five years. While it is possible for certain prohibitions to still be in effect, environmental and social changes are expected to occur routinely. A five-year timeframe will encompass the time until the next probable Forest Plan revision, where recreation and visual resources will be considered at the programmatic level.

ALTERNATIVE 1 – NO ACTION

DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS

Since many of these twelve prohibitions are currently in existence, they would be allowed to expire and the increased safety, resource protection, and a more positive visitor experience would not occur. There would be no mechanism for law enforcement to monitor, limit, or enforce certain activities or behaviors that can impact resources or human interaction.

CUMULATIVE EFFECTS

Other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable projects that could occur with the DBNF include developed recreation area maintenance, vegetation management (e.g. timber harvest, prescribed burning, and pesticide treatment), trail construction and maintenance, routine road work, emergency area closures, and minerals development. These projects are not expected to decrease safety for visitors. However, forest scenery that would have otherwise been preserved by approving a prohibition (e.g. climbing or rappelling in certain scenic areas) could be obstructed, and when combined with vistas containing disturbance from various management projects (e.g. log skidders and tree removal or increased human presence on the landscape from trail maintenance activities) could provide for a less scenic visitor experience. With the no action alternative, the absence of the proposed prohibitions would be indefinite and/or unknown; most of the cumulative projects would be definite in time and space. It is difficult, therefore, to estimate the breadth of the implications for recreation opportunities and scenic vistas.

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ALTERNATIVE 2 – PROPOSED ACTION

DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS

Closure orders are designed to help protect recreational resources such as campground amenities as well as dispersed recreation areas. Use is often high in developed recreation areas, and many dispersed areas are also popular visitor destinations (e.g. traditional rock climbing areas, well-liked fishing spots, and trails) and the prohibitions are designed to help protect the visitor’s health and safety while simultaneously protecting the natural resources associated with these sites. The decision to put the proposed prohibitions into effect is anticipated to benefit DBNF recreation resources and scenic values by providing a mechanism for law enforcement to monitor, limit and enforce compliance, or issue violations for non-compliance on activities or behaviors prohibited in the proposed Orders. In addition, the prohibitions that modify human behavior would promote a cleaner and more pleasurable visitor experience as well as maintain the natural landscape views for which the DBNF is known. The prohibitions proposed for permanent authorization are not expected to have any long-term negative effects on the recreational resource or visual quality. On the contrary, they are designed to increase and enhance the health and safety aspect of Forest visitors and Forest employees while protecting vulnerable natural resources.

CUMULATIVE EFFECTS

There are many other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable projects that will overlap this project area in both space and time. Other projects to consider for cumulative effects include:

• Routine maintenance of developed recreation sites; • Routine road maintenance; • Timber harvest; • Prescribed burning; • Routine maintenance of rights-of-way; • Recreation events (e.g. fishing derbies, trail runs, private weddings). Any of the cumulative projects described for the No Action alternative above might occur on privately- owned or NFS lands, and there are already Orders in place prohibiting certain activities for the protection of resources, and the safety and enjoyment of forest visitors. Some of the Orders also modify human behavior as does this proposal. When combined

There are negligible anticipated cumulative effects that could result from the reauthorization or new authorization of the proposed prohibitions when considered in combination with other activities listed directly above. At times, these other projects may limit the area or activities of visitors. However, these other projects are short-term in duration, and each would occupy a small amount of NFS lands at any one time. Given the large availability of NFS lands on which to recreate, it is possible for a visitor to find another suitable location should there be an ongoing project in a specific area. Additionally, the short-term nature of these other projects will have negligible impacts on the visual quality of the DBNF.

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SUMMARY This is predominantly an administrative action where no ground disturbance would take place. The Daniel Boone National Forest has periodically issued closure orders to protect visitor health and safety and/or to protect forest resources from potentially damaging activities. In some cases, closure orders may serve a secondary purpose of resolving conflicts among forest visitors regarding appropriate use of forest resources or recreational opportunities.

APPENDIX A - REFERENCES

USDA Forest Service. 2004. Land and Resource Management Plan for the Daniel Boone National Forest. Management Bulletin R8-MB-117A. Winchester, . 286 pp.

USDA Forest Service. 2013. National Use Visitor Monitoring Results, National Summary Report. 31 pp.

APPENDIX B - DEVELOPED RECREATION SITES, DANIEL BOONE NATIONAL FOREST

Cumberland Ranger District Campgrounds, o White Oak Boat-In Campground Cave Run Lake o Little Lick Campground • Claylick Boat-in Campground o Bee Rock Campground • Clear Creek Campground o Rockcastle Campground • Paragon Dispersed Camping Area o S-Tree Campground • Twin Knobs Recreation Area o Turkey Foot Campground • White Sulphur Horse Camp o Sheltowee Trace National Recreation • Zilpo Recreation Area Trail Cumberland Ranger District Campgrounds, Redbird Ranger District Campgrounds Red River Gorge Geological Area • None Koomer Ridge Campground o Stearns Ranger District Campgrounds London Ranger District Campgrounds o Barren Fork Horse Camp o Grove Boat-In Campground o Bell Farm Horse Camp Great Meadows Campground o Grove Drive-in Campground o o Holly Bay Campground

APPENDIX C. NFS HORSE CAMPS, DANIEL BOONE NATIONAL FOREST

Cumberland Ranger District Horse Camps Redbird Ranger District Horse Camps

o White Sulphur Horse Camp o None Stearns Ranger District Horse Camps London Ranger District Horse Camps • Barren Fork Horse Camp • Little Lick Campground • Bell Farm Horse Camp

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APPENDIX D. NFS TRAILS, DANIEL BOONE NATIONAL FOREST

Cumberland Ranger District Trails • Angel Windows Trail #218 • Princess Arch Trail #233 • Auxier Branch Trail #203 • Rock Bridge Trail #207 • Auxier Ridge Trail #204 • Rough Trail #221 • Bison Way Trail #210 • Rush Ridge Trail #227 • Cave Run Lake • Shallow Flats Trail #1209 • Boat Gunnel Shoreline Trail #1206 • Shallow Pond Trail #1211 • Buck Creek Trail #118 • Sheltowee Connector Trail #211 • Buck Trail #226 • #100 Section 1 • Buckskin Trail #113 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 2 • Caney Trail #1226 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 3 • Carrington Branch Trail #121 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 4 • Carrington Rock Trail #123 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 5 • Cave Run Lake Trail #116 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 6 • Cave Run Trail #112 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 7 • Chimney Top Trail #235 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 8 • Clear Creek Lake Trail #103 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 9 • Cliff Trail #206 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 10 • Clifty Wilderness • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 11 • Connector Trail #108 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 12 • Courthouse Rock Trail #202 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 13 • Cross Over Trail #107 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 14 • D. Boon Hut Trail #209 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 15 • Double Arch Trail #201 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 16 • Eagle Lake Trail #114 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 17 • Grays Arch Trail #205 • Silvermine Arch Trail #225 • Hidden Arch Trail #208 • Sky Bridge Trail #214 • Hog Pen Trail #106 • Swift Camp Creek Trail #219 • Knob Overlook Trail #1700 • Tater Knob Trail #104 • Koomer Ridge Trail #220 • Tower Rock Trail #229 • Lakeview Ridge Trail #122 • Tunnel Ridge Road • Leatherwood Loop Trail #116A • Twin Knobs Shoreline Trail #1702 • Left Flank Wall Trail #231 • Whistling Arch Trail #234 • Limestone Bike Trail #109 • Whittleton Arch Trail #217 • Limestone Connector #109A • White Sulphur OHV Trail System • Lost Branch Trail #239 • White Sulphur Trail #115/115A • Martin Branch Trail #119 • Wildcat Trail #228 • Military Wall Trail #230 • Wildlife Habitat Trail #1215 • Muskie Bend Trail #1210 • Windy Bay Trails #1223/A/B • Oak Ridge Trail #1208 • Zilpo Connector Trail #113A • Osborne Bend Trail #240 • Zilpo Mountain Trail #1802 • Pebble Beach Trail #237 • Powdermill Branch Trail #238 Page | 7

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LONDON RANGER DISTRICT Trails • Bark Camp Trail #413 • Sheltowee Trace #100 Section 18 Sturgeon • Bee Rock Loop Trail #529 Creek • Boat Ramp Trail #483 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 19 • Cane Creek Trail #410 Turkey Foot • Cold Rock School Trail #430 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 20 • Craigs Creek Trail #420 McKee • Trail #414 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 21 • Duff Branch Trail #440 Horse Lick • Fishing Point Trail #442 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 22 • Flatwoods Trail #470 Rockcastle • Goodwater OHV Route #504 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 23 • Hightop Trail #460 Wildcat • Holly Bay Marina Trail #482 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 24 • Holly Bay Trail #481 Hawk Creek • Lakeside North Trail #411 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 25 Big • Lakeside South Trail #412 Dog • Little Lick Trail #502 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 26 • Marsh Branch Trail #431 Laurel Lake • Nathan McClure Trail #530 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 27 • Neds Branch Trail #405 • Singing Hills Trail #443 • Oak Branch Trail #444 • Spruce Creek Trail #441 • Renfro OHV Route #302/302A • Sugartree Hollow Trails #407 & #407A • Rockcastle Connector Trail #401A • Three Sisters Rock Trail #450/A/B • Rockcastle Narrows East #401 • Turkey Foot Trail System #303 • Rockcastle Narrows Trail #503 • Twin Branch Trail #406 • Scuttle Hole Trail System ( #404/A & Dutch • Wildcat Trail #490 Branch) • Winding Stair Gap #402 • Wintergreen Trail #480/480A Redbird Ranger District Trails o Redbird Crest Trail System o Left Fork of Elisha Creek #803 o Daniel Boone Trail Connector #804 o Redbird Crest Trail #801 o Gilbert Creek/ Elisha Loop Trail #802 o Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail Stearns Ranger District Trails • Alpine Loop Trail #520 • Cliffside Trail #519 • Alpine Spur Trail #521A • Draft Trail #617 • Arabian Loop Trail #622 • Flat Rock Ridge Trail #616 • Barren Fork Accessible Heritage Trail #621 • Gobblers Arch Trail #636 • Belgian Loop Trail #624 • Indian Creek Trail #626 • Bowman Ridge Trail #514 • Koger Arch Trail #633 • Buffalo Arch Trail #634A • Laurel Creek Trail #620 • Buffalo Canyon Trail #508 • Lick Creek Falls Trail #631A • Canter Loop Trail #625 • Lick Creek Trail #631 • Canter Loop A Trail #625A • Mark Branch Trail #635 • Canter Loop B Trail #625B • Markers Arch Trail #603 Page | 8

Forest Supervisor’s Closure Orders Recreation and Visual Resources Report

• Middle Ridge Trail #518 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 35 • Natural Arch Loop Trail #510 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 36 • Negro Creek Trail #612 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 37 • North Flat Rock Trail #627 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 38 • Panoramic View Trail #528 • Sheltowee Trace Spur Trail #100E • Parkers Mountain Trail #634 • Straight Creek OHV Trail #501 • Rock Ridge OHV Trail #506 • Straight Creek OHV Trail A #501A • Rock Ridge OHV Trail #506A • Three Forks Spur #512B • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 28 • Three Forks of Beaver Loop Trail #512 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 29 • Three Forks of Beaver Trail #512A • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 30 • Upper Bowman A Trail #532A • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 31 • Upper Bowman Trail #532 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 32 • Trail #602 • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 33 • Yellow Cliff OHV Route #68B • Sheltowee Trace Trail #100 Section 34

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APPENDIX E - LOCATION

FIGURE A. VICINITY MAP, DANIEL BOONE NATIONAL FOREST SUPERVISOR ORDERS Page | 10