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Travel Analysis Report for Tusayan Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest

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Travel Analysis Report for Tusayan Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest Travel Analysis Report For Tusayan Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest Prepared By Charlotte Minor and Charles Ernst Approved By _______________________________ _________________ John Booth, Forest Engineer Date Accepted By _______________________________ _________________ Mike R. Williams, Forest Supervisor Date Version 2.0, released 12/2008 1 Kaibab National Forest Table of Contents Introduction 5 Travel Analysis Objectives 6 Process Overview 6 Travel Analysis Products 6 Step 1- Setting Up the Analysis 7 Project Objectives 8 Project Steps 8 Interdisciplinary Team Members: 7 Other Participants 8 Information Needed to Complete the Analysis 9 Available Information 9 Data Gaps 10 Step 2- Describing the Situation 10 Setting, District Users and Uses 10 Existing Roads 12 Kaibab National Forest Management Plan Direction 14 Step 3. Identifying Issues 15 Step 4 – Assessing Benefits, Problems and Risks of the Existing Road System 16 Public Transportation 17 Recreation, Scenery Management, Access to Private Land, and Special Uses 21 Heritage Resources 24 Soils and Watershed 25 Wildlife Management, Rare Plants and Invasive Species 26 Range Management 31 Vegetation Management 32 Fire Management 32 Page 2 of 136 DISTRICT LEVEL ROADS ANALYSIS REPORT Kaibab National Forest Step 5 Prioritization 33 Initial Results 33 Summary of Key Findings for the Existing Road System 34 Risk-Value Matrix for the Existing Road System 36 Recommendations 48 Step 5 - Reporting 49 Public Involvement 50 Proposed Road System 51 List of Figures Figure 1. Tusayan District of the Kaibab National Forest 12 Figure 2. All Roads on Tusayan Ranger District 13 Figure 3. Risk-Value Assessment Categories 37 Figure 4. Proposed Designated System of Roads Open to Motorized Travel 52 List of Tables Table 1. Inventoried Roads on theTusayan Ranger District 14 Table 2. KNF annual miles of road maintenance by road type, 2005-2008 18 Table 3. Annual Road Maintenance Needs, Kaibab National Forest 19 Table 4. Estimated Costs for Annual Maintenance for Tusayan Ranger District 20 Table 5. Listed, Sensitive Species, and Management Indicator Species on TRD 29 Table 6. Initial Road Categories Matrix 38 Table 7.Summary of Preliminary Changes to Existing Road System 49 Table 8. Roads Added to Preliminary Road System 52 Estimated Annual Maintenance Cost for Proposed Road System 56 Appendices Page 3 of 136 DISTRICT LEVEL ROADS ANALYSIS REPORT Kaibab National Forest Appendix 1 2003 Kaibab National Forest TAP 57 Appendix 2 Existing National Forest System Roads Inventory 97 Appendix 3 Road Maintenance Level Information 112 Appendix 4 Resource Area Analysis Maps 116 Appendix 5 Road Definitions 122 Appendix 6 Best Management Practices 131 Page 4 of 136 DISTRICT LEVEL ROADS ANALYSIS REPORT Kaibab National Forest Introduction The Travel Management Rule (TMR) was published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, November 9, 2005. This rule includes a mandatory process called Travel Analysis. The Travel Analysis Process (TAP) is not a National Environmental Planning Act (NEPA) process, rather it is an integrated ecological, social, and economic approach to transportation planning, and addressing both the existing road system and future desired road system. Travel Analysis is an interdisciplinary broad-scale analysis with the intent of matching the motorized transportation system to the desired conditions in the Kaibab National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). Travel Analysis will provide a comprehensive review and recommendations for the existing road system. These recommendations will be carried forward into the NEPA portion of rule implementation. Historically in the Forest Service, roads were managed by Engineering and motorized trails were managed by Recreation. The recently revised travel management regulations combine the analysis of motorized trails and roads under the Travel Analysis Process. The new travel management rule, hereafter referred to as the “Rule” requires each National Forest to designate those National Forest System roads, motorized trails, and areas on Forest Service System lands that are open to motor vehicle use by class of vehicle and, if appropriate, by time of year (36 CFR 212.51). A key concept underlying the Travel Analysis Process is that the focus is on changes needed to the forest transportation system and management of motor vehicles on Forest Service system lands. This process also helps to meet specific requirements of 36 CFR 212, subparts A and B: 1. To identify the minimum road system. 2. To identify and subsequently designate a system of roads motorized trails, and areas for motor vehicle use. The Travel Analysis requirements are described in FSM 7700 Travel Management; FSM 7710 (Travel Planning); FSM 7730 (Road Operations); FSM 2350 (Motorized trails); FSH 7709.55 (Travel Analysis); FSH 7709.59 (Road Operations); FSH 2309.18 (Motorized trail Operations). The following is the link to the complete to the FSM draft directives as well as information on the travel analysis process can be found at http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/ohv/index.shtml . Page 5 of 136 DISTRICT LEVEL ROADS ANALYSIS REPORT Kaibab National Forest Travel Analysis Objectives Travel Analysis is intended to identify opportunities and provide information in support of the integration of ecological, social, and economic concerns into travel management decisions. The objective of this analysis is to provide information to decision makers that will lead to a safe road and motorized trail system that is: 1) responsive to public needs and desires 2) conforms to the National Forest Land Management Plan 3) is efficiently administered 4) has minimal negative effects to natural and cultural resources 5) recognizes the limitations of available funding. Process Overview Travel Analysis is a six-step process that considers the landscape, site-specific conditions, and public input in identifying a set of relevant transportation-related issues and analysis questions. The Travel Analysis Process is the same six step process outlined in the former Roads Analysis Process (a.k.a. RAP) described in Forest Service Report FS-643, Roads Analysis: Informing Decisions About Managing the National Forest Transportation System (1999). The new directives incorporate key provisions of FS-643 into the directives system, clarify procedures, and streamline some language. The level of detail needed for each step depends on the complexity of the issues, site-specific conditions, and available information. The six-step process is: Step 1. Setting up the Analysis Step 2. Describing the Situation Step 3. Identifying Issues Step 4. Assessing Benefits, Problems and Risks Step 5. Prioritization Step 6. Reporting Travel Analysis Products This report is a product of the transportation analysis process and documents the information and analyses used to identify opportunities and priorities for future national forest road systems. Included in the report is a map displaying the known road system and the needs and/or opportunities for each road. This report will: Identify the Minimum road system needed at this time. Identify the minimum road system needed for safe and efficient travel and for administration, utilization, and protection of National Forest System lands. Incorporate a science-based transportation analysis at the appropriate scale and, to the degree practicable, involve a broad spectrum of interested and affected citizens, other state and federal agencies, and tribal governments in determining the minimum road system at some point in the process. The minimum system is the road system determined to be needed to meet resource and other management objectives adopted in the relevant land and resource management plan (36 CFR part 219), to meet applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, to reflect long- term funding expectations, to ensure that the identified system minimizes adverse environmental impacts associated with road construction, reconstruction, decommissioning, and maintenance. Page 6 of 136 DISTRICT LEVEL ROADS ANALYSIS REPORT Kaibab National Forest Identify the road system open to motorized travel . Identify the roads on lands under Forest Service jurisdiction that are open to motorized use, and those that no longer needed to meet forest resource management objectives or that will be limited to administrative uses. Roads may be closed (the road is closed to all types of motorized traffic)1, decommissioned (stabilization and restoration of unneeded roads to a more natural state), limited to administrative use, or considered for other uses, such as for trails. This also includes identifying road related social, environmental and public safety risks. Identify site-specific priorities and opportunities for road improvements, closures and decommissioning. Identify a matrix of road that compares road needed for resource management and road with risks for resource damage. This will help to identify priorities for road improvements, closures and decommissioning. Identify areas of special sensitivity or any unique resource values. Identify areas needing special management actions, or that are closed to motorized uses (such as designated wilderness). This report will help managers address questions on road access related to ecosystem health and sustainability, commodity extraction, recreation, social and cultural values, and administrative uses. It also informs future management decisions on the merits and risks of building new roads; relocating, upgrading, or decommissioning existing roads;
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