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Dance Hall Rock Parking EA United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Dance Hall Rock Parking Area Development Environmental Assessment DOI-BLM-UT-0300-2013-003-EA June 2014 Location: Dance Hall Rock is located in Kane County, Utah. The nearest gateway community is Escalante, Utah, approximately 50 miles west-northwest. Salt Lake Meridian, Township 40 South, Range 7 East, Section 1. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument 669 South Highway 89A Kanab, Utah 84741 Phone: (435) 644-1200 Fax: (435) 644-1250 Dance Hall Rock Parking Area Development DOI-BLM-UT-0300-2013-003-EA Table of Contents 1.0 Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Background .............................................................................................................. 2 1.3 Need for the Proposed Action .................................................................................. 2 1.4 Purpose(s) of the Proposed Action .......................................................................... 3 1.5 Conformance with BLM Land Use Plan(s) ............................................................. 3 1.6 Relationship to Statutes, Regulations, or Other Plans ............................................. 3 1.7 Identification of Issues ............................................................................................. 4 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING PROPOSED ACTION ......... 5 2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 5 2.2 Design Features Common to Both Action Alternatives .......................................... 7 2.3 Alternative A – No Action ....................................................................................... 8 2.4 Alternative B – Develop the current parking area ................................................... 8 2.5 Alternatives C – Develop a new parking area ....................................................... 10 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................. 11 3.1 Introduction and General Setting ........................................................................... 11 3.2 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................. 12 3.3 Recreation .............................................................................................................. 12 3.4 Soils and Hydrology .............................................................................................. 13 3.5 Vegetation .............................................................................................................. 14 3.6 Visual Resources .................................................................................................... 14 3.7 Wildlife .................................................................................................................. 15 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS............................................................................... 16 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 16 4.2 General Analysis Assumptions and Guidelines ..................................................... 16 4.3 Direct and Indirect Effects ..................................................................................... 17 4.3.1 Alternative A – No Action .............................................................................. 17 4.3.2 Alternative B ................................................................................................... 18 4.3.3 Alternative C ................................................................................................... 20 4.4 Cumulative Impacts Analysis ................................................................................ 23 4.4.1 Cultural Resources .......................................................................................... 24 4.4.2 Recreation ....................................................................................................... 24 4.4.3 Soils and Hydrology ....................................................................................... 25 4.4.4 Vegetation ....................................................................................................... 25 4.4.5 Visual Resources ............................................................................................. 25 4.4.5 Wildlife ........................................................................................................... 26 5.0 CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION ........................................................... 26 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 26 5.2 Persons, Groups, and Agencies Consulted: ........................................................... 26 5.3 Summary of Public Participation ........................................................................... 27 5.4 List of Preparers ..................................................................................................... 28 6.0 REFERENCES, GLOSSARY AND ACRONYMS .................................................. 28 6.1 References Cited .................................................................................................... 28 6.2 Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................. 28 6.3 List of Acronyms ................................................................................................... 29 APPENDICES ................................................................................................................. 30 APPENDIX A: Interdisciplinary Team Checklist ...................................................... 30 APPENDIX B: Key Observation Points ..................................................................... 34 APPENDIX C: Vegetation Types of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument ...................................................................................................................................... 35 ii Dance Hall Rock Parking Area Development DOI-BLM-UT-0300-2013-003-EA 1.0 PURPOSE AND NEED 1.1 Introduction Dance Hall Rock, a large sandstone outcrop shaped like a natural amphitheater, is along the route of the 1879-80 San Juan Expedition. This route is also known as the Hole-in- the-Rock trail. The Hole-in-the-Rock trek was an epic journey in which members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) pioneered a more direct wagon route across the Colorado River to the southeastern corner of Utah in order to settle at Fort Bluff along the San Juan River. Dance Hall Rock is a popular attraction with tourists and members of the LDS Church. Hole-in-the-Rock trail is on the National Register of Historic Places. Dance Hall Rock located 41 miles down the road from State Route 12 is not listed on the National Register although it is identified as eligible. Since the site is eligible, BLM manages it as if it were on the National Register. Since the 1879-80 San Juan expedition, local and regional Mormon heritage groups customarily travel to Dance Hall Rock and the Hole-in-the-Rock site for educational youth conferences. In 2009, the novel The Undaunted was published telling stories about the San Juan Mission pioneers. Subsequently in 2010, BLM authorized four Special Recreation Permits (SRP) to organized groups associated with the LDS Church to host heritage events at Dance Hall Rock. During this same year, construction of the Hole-in- the-Rock - Escalante Heritage Center was completed, and the facility was formally opened to the public in May 2011. The interpretive facility focuses on sharing the stories associated with the Hole-in-the-Rock trek and Escalante history. On April 5 2012, BLM finalized a programmatic environmental assessment (DOI-BLM- UT-0300-008-EA) and decision document for issuing SRPs to Organized Groups along Hole-in-the-Rock Road. This decision allows groups up to 145 people to attend heritage events at Dance Hall Rock as well as visit Hole-in-the-Rock. Considering current demand for use by large groups and a general upswing in heritage tourism nationwide, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) foresees a continuing desire for heritage groups, tourists, and backcountry users to visit Dance Hall Rock for its historical, educational, and recreational values. In addition to use as a heritage resource, Dance Hall Rock is a popular destination for other visitors because of its unique geological features. Many visitors park at Dance Hall Rock to hike, explore, and photograph the sand stone domes and windblown pot holes behind the dance floor. Dance Hall Rock receives greater visitation due to the fact that it is adjacent to Hole-in-the-Rock Road as well as it is a unique landscape feature that is inviting to visitors. 1 1.2 Background The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), GSENM proposes to design and construct parking area improvements at or near the Dance Hall Rock Historic Site. On December 28, 1970, a Federal Register Notice (FR, Vol. 35 No. 248 -12/12/1970) segregated Dance Hall Rock along with six other areas, within the then Escalante Field Station, from appropriation
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