CDNST Potential Addition Final Environmental Statement
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TABLE 0 F CONTENTS Page I. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION ........................ 1 Introduction ............................................. 1 Trail Alignments ......................................... 2 Trail Standards .......................................... 5 Trail Facilities ......................................... 6 Rights-of-Way Land Acquisition ............................ 8 Trail Access ............................................. 9 Trail Establishment ...................................... 10 Trail Administration...................................... 13 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT ............................ 14 General .................................................. 14 Fish and Wildlife ........................................ 30 Land Ownership ........................................... 32 Land Use ................................................. 35 History .................................................. 28 III. THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED ACTION .......... 41 Impact on Fish and Wildlife .............................. 41 Disturbance of Soil and Vegetation ........................ 42 Increased Recreation Use ................................ 43 Economic and Social Impacts............................... 46 IV. MITIGATING MEASURES INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED ACTION . 48 V. ANY ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS WHICH CANNOT BE AVOIDED SHOULD THE PROPOSAL BE IMPLEMENTED ................ 49 VI. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL SHORT-TERM USE OF MAN'S ENVIRONMENT AND ENHANCEMENT OF LONG-TERM PRODUCTIVITY ... 50 VII. ANY IRREVERSIBLE AND IRRETRIEVABLE COMMITMENTS OF RESOURCES WHICH WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE PROPOSED . ACTION SHOULD IT BE IMPLEMENTED .......................... 51 VIII. ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED ACTION ..................... 52 No Action ................................................ 52 Different Trail Segment ................................. 52 Different Trail Standards ................................ t-o Different Trail Locations ................................ ,-4 General .................................................. r> Page IX. CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION WITH OTHERS ................... 56 Consultation and Coordination in the Development of the Proposal and Preparation of the Draft Environmental Statement ................................................... 5g Summary of Correspondence Received Following Review of the Draft Statement....................................... 55 Summary of Changes from Draft Statement .................... 57 Coordination of the Review of the Draft Environmental Statement ................................................... 57 COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT STATEMENT AND RESPONSES THERETO .... 59 Department of Agriculture Forest Service ........................................... 60 Department of Defense Assistant Secretary for Defense ................. 61 Department of Housing and Urban Development ........ ... 63 Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs................................... 64 Bureau of Land Management ................................. 67 Fish and Wildlife Service ................................. 74 National Park Service .....................................75 Department of Transportation Office of the Secretary ................................... 81 Environmental Protection Agency ............................ 84 State Clearinghouses Colorado ..................................................90 New Mexico ................................................ 93 Wyoming ................................................... 95 Colorado Division of Planning . ............................. 98 Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation . .100 Colorado Horsemens Council, Inc.............................. 102 Denver Regional Council of Governments ....................... 2.05 Idaho State Planning and Community Affairs Agency .......... 107 Idaho Department of Environmental and Community Services. .108 Idaho State Parks and Recreation Department ................ 109 Middle Rio Grande Council of Governments of New Mexico. , . .112 North Central New Mexico Economic Development District. .114 Society of American Foresters, Central Rocky Mountain Section ................................................... 115 The Wilderness Society, Western Regional Office ............. 121 Wilson, Harry E. - Bremerton, Washington 98310 ............... 126 IX LIST 0 F FIGURES Figure Page 1-1 Proposed Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. ... 4 1-2 Typical Trailhead ...................................... 7 1-3 Trail Priorities ...................................... 11 II-l Trail Topographic Profiles ............................ 25 II-2 Diagrammatic Representation of the Life Zones along the Southern Continental Divide . .Following page 15 LIST 0 F TABLES Table 1-1 Existing and Non-Existing Trails in National Forest Wilderness and Primitive Areas and National Parks.......................................... 2 1-2 Mileage of Existing Trails and Roadways Included in Alignment of the Proposed Trail .................... 5 1-3 Right-of-Way Needs ..................................... 9 1-4 Recommended Priorities for Trail Establishment ........... 12 II-l Threatened and Endangered Species ...................... 33 II-2 Land Ownership in Miles - Continental Divide Trail. ... 34 II-3 Principal Land Use by Miles Along the Continental Divide Trail............................................ 36 II-4 Areas of Historic Interest within the Continental Divide Trail Corridor .................................. 39 III-l Projected Trail Visitation and Major Use Seasons for the Continental Divide Trail ........................ 45 iii I. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION A. Introduction The study of the proposed Continental Divide Trail was assigned to the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation by the Secretary of the Interior in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture. The study began in June 1969 and was conducted with the active assistance of other Federal agencies — the Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Fish and Wildlife Service — the States of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico, and numerous private organizations and individuals. During the study of the proposed Continental Divide Trail, emphasis was placed on those aspects of trail planning specifically prescribed in the National Trails System Act. Major study elements, therefore, included the characteristics which would make the trail a fitting addition to the National System; the trail route and plans for development; costs for development, operation and maintenance; expected visitation; land ownership and use;and the economic impacts of the trail. The route of the proposed trail would extend from the Montana- Canada border in Glacier National Park to the border between extreme southwest New Mexico and Mexico. Covering some 3,100 miles, in close proximity to the Continental Divide, the trail would pass through or by spectacular scenery of a quality and magnitude matched by only the North Cascades and the Yellowstone- Teton areas. The trail traverses a variety of terrain, including high desert, forest, geologic formations, and mountain meadows. Extending along the backbone of the Continent, the trail would provide a complementary north-south scenic route between the Appalachian and Pacific Crest National Scenic Trails. About 82 percent of the trail corridor is on Federal lands. Approximately 62 percent of the trail is in place, mostly on public land. However, most sections will require upgrading and repair. The findings of the Continental Divide Trail Study indicate that the trail route has the qualities in abundance necessary for designation as a National Scenic Trail. As such, it would provide outstanding recreation opportunities for a substantial number of users. However, analysis also indicates that the most immediate and highest trail priority in the vicinity of the Continental Divide Trail corridor is for trails at lower elevations and loop systems which would allow users to enjoy a Continental Divide Trail experience and return to the same trailhead from which they started. This need is especially great near the population concentrations and recreation destination centers flanking the Continental Divide. Recognizing the above priorities, it is recommended that the route be designated as the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, with the designated trail being limited initially to those segments of trail already in existence on Federal lands (see table 1-1). It is further recommended that no new major trail development be undertaken along the Continental Divide Trail route until higher priority needs in the vicinity are met; i.e., the upgrading of existing trails and development of new loop trails to meet the more immediate recreation needs of population and recreation destination centers near the Continental Divide. Table 1-1 EXISTING AND NON-EXISTING TRAILS IN NATIONAL FOREST WILDERNESS AND PRIMITIVE AREAS AND NATIONAL PARKS CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL When the above-mentioned demands are fairly well met and fiscal conditions permit, consideration could then be given to developing additional segments of the Continental Divide Trail as a north- south connecting National Scenic Trail in accordance with the priorities set forth in the study report. B. Trail Alignments The alignment of the Continental Divide Trail (3,102 miles) coincides with the actual spine Continental Divide in relatively 2 few locations. The selection