Holter Lake-Gates of the Mountains Recreation Management Plan
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United States Department of Agriculture Holter Lake-Gates of the Mountains Recreation Management Plan PREPARED FOR: Helena Lewis and Clark National Forest Helena, MT July 2019 303 Clarke Street | Helena, MT 59601 | 406.443.6169 www.hydrosi.com Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest | Holter-GOTM Recreation Management Plan For More Information Contact: Roy Barkley Recreation Specialist Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Townsend and Helena Ranger Districts 2880 Skyway Drive Helena, MT 59602 p: 406-495-3914 [email protected] 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). 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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. Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest | Holter-GOTM Recreation Management Plan Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 1 1.1 GATES OF THE MOUNTAINS RECREATION AREA .................................................. 1 1.2 PURPOSE AND SCOPE ............................................................................................. 1 1.3 HISTORY OF RECREATION PLANNING .................................................................... 2 1.4 VISION STATEMENT .................................................................................................. 2 1.5 PLANNING PROCESS OVERVIEW ............................................................................ 3 1.5.1 CRRMP Initiation .................................................................................................. 3 1.5.2 Stakeholder Selection and Collaboration .............................................................. 3 1.6 LAND OWNERSHIP AND JURISDICTION .................................................................. 4 1.6.1 Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest ............................................................... 7 1.6.2 Bureau of Land Management ................................................................................ 7 1.6.3 Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks ................................................. 7 1.7 MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY ...................................................................................... 8 2 GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND RESOURCE VALUES .............................................. 8 2.1 GUIDING PRINCIPLES ............................................................................................... 9 2.1.1 Recreational Opportunity ...................................................................................... 9 2.1.2 Conservation of Ecology ......................................................................................11 2.1.3 Cultural and Historical Integrity ............................................................................14 2.1.4 Economic Opportunity ..........................................................................................14 2.1.5 Public Safety ........................................................................................................15 3 RECREATION MANAGEMENT APPROACH ....................................................... 16 3.1 MANAGEMENT APPROACH .....................................................................................16 3.1.1 Desired Conditions ..............................................................................................16 3.1.2 Indicators and Standards .....................................................................................17 3.1.3 Monitoring ............................................................................................................18 3.2 ROUTINE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS .........................................................................18 4 HOLTER LAKE AND GATES OF THE MOUNTAINS RECREATION AREA - FACILITIES, SETTINGS & DESIRED CONDITIONS .................................................. 19 4.1 DESIRED CONDITIONS FOR DEVELOPED RECREATION SITES ..........................19 4.1.1 Coulter Campground ............................................................................................19 2019.07 | Page i Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest | Holter-GOTM Recreation Management Plan 4.1.2 Beaver Creek Access Site ...................................................................................21 4.1.3 Meriwether Picnic Area ........................................................................................23 4.1.4 Beartooth Landing Campground ..........................................................................25 4.1.5 Holter Lake Recreation Area ................................................................................25 4.1.6 Dispersed Camping and On-River Experience .....................................................28 5 MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND DIRECTION .......................................................... 29 5.1 RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITY .............................................................................29 5.1.1 Issue: Poor Site Facility Conditions ......................................................................29 5.1.2 Issue: Visitor Crowding ........................................................................................30 5.2 CONSERVATION OF ECOLOGY ...............................................................................30 5.2.1 Issue: Soil Erosion and Compaction ....................................................................30 5.2.2 Issue: Vegetation Loss, Noxious Weeds & Invasive Species ...............................31 5.2.3 Issue: Sanitation and Human Waste ....................................................................31 5.2.4 Issue: Fish Quality ...............................................................................................32 5.3 CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL INTEGRITY ..............................................................34 5.4 ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY .....................................................................................35 5.5 ISSUE: PUBLIC SAFETY ...........................................................................................35 5.5.1 Issue: Road Maintenance ....................................................................................35 5.5.2 Issue: Boat Safety/Etiquette .................................................................................36 5.5.3 Issue: Parking Shortages .....................................................................................36 5.6 MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS ............................................................................37 6 REFERENCES ....................................................................................................... 38 APPENDICES................................................................................................................ 1 APPENDIX A: PROPOSED SITE IMPROVEMENTS AND PRIORITIES ................................ 2 Meriwether Picnic Area: ...................................................................................................... 3 Beaver Creek Access Site: ................................................................................................. 3 Coulter Campground: .......................................................................................................... 3 Beartooth Landing: .............................................................................................................. 4 Additional Management Actions: ......................................................................................... 4 APPENDIX B: 2018 FOREST PLAN EXCERPT: MISSOURI RIVER CORRIDOR.................. 1 2019.07 | Page ii Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest | Holter-GOTM Recreation Management Plan List of Figures Figure 1-1. Southern Portion of the Holter Lake-Gates of the Mountains Reach of the Missouri River showing public land management boundaries, recreation sites, and