Big Bear Back Country Off-Highway Vehicle
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Travel Analysis Report United States Department of Big Bear Back Country Place Agriculture Off-Highway Vehicle Use Forest Service November 2015 Mountaintop Ranger District, San Bernardino National Forest San Bernardino County, California For More Information Contact: Tasha Hernandez, Environmental Coordinator San Bernardino National Forest [email protected] 909-382-2905 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. San Bernardino National Forest Big Bear Place Off-Highway Vehicle Travel Analysis Process Table of Contents SETTING UP THE ANALYSIS .................................................................................................... 3 36 CFR 212 ............................................................................................................................. 3 FSM 7712................................................................................................................................ 4 FSH 7709.55 Chapter 20......................................................................................................... 4 Objectives and Priorities ............................................................................................................ 5 DESCRIBING THE SITUATION ................................................................................................. 6 San Bernardino National Forest Land Management Plan ......................................................... 6 Transportation Atlas................................................................................................................ 8 Social and Economic Environment ........................................................................................... 14 Recreation ............................................................................................................................. 16 Heritage Resources ............................................................................................................... 22 Physical and Natural Resources ................................................................................................ 22 Soils and Watershed .............................................................................................................. 23 Fire and Vegetation Management ......................................................................................... 29 Wildlife and Plants ................................................................................................................ 30 Forest Management ............................................................................................................... 32 Identifying Issues ...................................................................................................................... 35 Public Values, Opportunities, and Uses ................................................................................ 35 Ecosystem Elements and Function ....................................................................................... 37 Commodity Uses and Values ................................................................................................ 42 Urban Development and Forest Linkages............................................................................. 42 Special Area Designations .................................................................................................... 43 Assessing Benefits, Problems, and Risks ................................................................................. 45 Describing Opportunities and Setting Priorities ....................................................................... 47 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 48 Appendix A – 2005 Roads Analysis Process ................................................................................ 49 Appendix B - FSH 7709.55 Chapter ............................................................................................. 68 Tables Table 1: Land Use Zones in Analysis Area .................................................................................... 6 Table 2: Inventoried Roadless Areas .............................................................................................. 6 Table 3: NFTS Roads Open to Public in Analysis Area ............................................................... 10 Table 4: NFTS Roads Closed to Public in Analysis Area ............................................................ 13 Table 5: Communities Near the Analysis Area ............................................................................ 15 Table 6: Ownership in Analysis Area ........................................................................................... 15 Table 7: Other Road Systems in Analysis Area............................................................................ 16 Table 8: NFTS Trails in Analysis Area with Authorized Use ...................................................... 20 Table 9: Roads & Trails Open to OHV Green Sticker Vehicles in Analysis Area ...................... 20 Table 10: Developed Recreation Sites in Analysis Area .............................................................. 21 Table 11: Riparian Conservation Areas in Analysis Area ............................................................ 24 Table 12: Road Water Crossings in Analysis Area ..................................................................... 25 Table 13: OHV Trail Water Crossings in Analysis Area ............................................................. 28 Table 14: Trail Water Crossings in Analysis Area ....................................................................... 28 Table 15: Appropriated Funding of the SBNF OHV Program and Other Major Programs ......... 34 1 San Bernardino National Forest Big Bear Place Off-Highway Vehicle Travel Analysis Process Table 16: California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Grant Funding on the SBNF............................................................................................................................................. 34 Table 17: NFTS Roads & Trails with Identified Heritage Issues ................................................. 36 Table 18: Direct Effects of Roads and Trails................................................................................ 41 Table 19: Indirect Effects of Roads and Trails in the Big Bear Back Country Place ................... 41 Table 20: MVUM Roads in Restricted Land Use Zones .............................................................. 43 Table 21: Administrative Roads in Restricted Land Use Zones ................................................... 44 Table 22: MVUM Trails in Restricted Land Use Zones ............................................................... 44 Table 23: MVUM Roads in Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) ................................................. 44 Table 24: MVUM Trails in Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) .................................................. 45 Table 25: Administrative Roads in Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) ...................................... 45 Table 26: San Bernardino National Forest Roads Evaluation – 2012 TAP Analysis Area Subset (2005 RAP) ................................................................................................................................... 49 Table 27: San Bernardino National Forest Roads Summary (2005 RAP) .................................... 50 Figures Figure 1: Appropriated NFTS Trails and Roads Maintenance Funding ....................................... 34 2 San Bernardino National Forest Big Bear Place Off-Highway Vehicle Travel Analysis Process SETTING UP THE ANALYSIS On August 11, 2003,