Rio Grande National Forest – Draft Assessment 2 Air Quality, Soils, and Water Resources

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Rio Grande National Forest – Draft Assessment 2 Air Quality, Soils, and Water Resources Rio Grande National Forest – Draft Assessment 2 Air Quality, Soils, and Water Resources Greg Bevenger, PH, WyoHydro Professional Hydrology Services LLC This document provides a rapid assessment of air, soil, geologic, and water resources that may be useful in developing plan components and other plan content. This assessment is in three sections: Air Quality, Soils, and Watersheds and Water Resources.1 There is a minor amount of repetition between sections in the event they are used as stand-alone documents. 1 This document contains non-italicized excerpts, in-full or paraphrased, from in-house Forest Service sources such as working documents, planning documents, NEPA documents, resource-area specific reports, manuals, handbooks, etc. This information may or may not be cited directly in the text but the source is listed in the information sources sections of the assessment. Information from published literature, such as scientific papers and investigations, is referenced directly in the text, with formal citation in the information sources sections of the assessment. Rio Grande National Forest Draft Assessment 2 – Air Quality, Soils, Geology, Watersheds and Water Resources Table of Contents Air Quality .................................................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 6 Concepts in Air Quality Management .................................................................................................. 6 Legal Framework and Forest Service Policy ........................................................................................ 8 Information Sources and Data Gaps ....................................................................................................... 11 Information Sources ............................................................................................................................ 11 Data Gaps ............................................................................................................................................ 13 Existing Forest Plan Direction for Air Quality ....................................................................................... 13 Desired Conditions .............................................................................................................................. 13 Objective ............................................................................................................................................. 13 Standards and Guidelines .................................................................................................................... 13 Scale of Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 13 Airsheds .................................................................................................................................................. 13 Air Quality .............................................................................................................................................. 15 Existing and Potential Sources and Inventories .................................................................................. 15 Air Resource Monitoring .................................................................................................................... 24 Natural Hazards ...................................................................................................................................... 47 Multiple Uses / Ecosystem Services ....................................................................................................... 47 Conditions and Trends ............................................................................................................................ 47 Need for Change ..................................................................................................................................... 49 Soils ............................................................................................................................................................ 50 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 50 Concepts in Soils Management ........................................................................................................... 50 Legal Framework and Forest Service Policy ...................................................................................... 52 Information Sources and Gaps................................................................................................................ 53 Information Sources ............................................................................................................................ 53 Data Gaps ............................................................................................................................................ 54 Existing Forest Plan Direction for Soils ................................................................................................. 54 Desired Conditions .............................................................................................................................. 54 Objective ............................................................................................................................................. 54 Standards and Guidelines .................................................................................................................... 55 Scale of Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 55 Existing Condition and Trend of Soils ................................................................................................... 55 Inventories ........................................................................................................................................... 55 Important Attributes, Characteristics, and Processes .......................................................................... 55 Conditions ........................................................................................................................................... 58 Trends ................................................................................................................................................. 59 Multiple Uses / Ecosystem Services ....................................................................................................... 60 Local Soil Resource Concerns ................................................................................................................ 60 Need for Change ..................................................................................................................................... 61 Watersheds and Water Resources ............................................................................................................... 62 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 62 Concepts in Watershed and Water Resources Management ............................................................... 63 Legal Framework and Forest Service Policy ...................................................................................... 64 Information Sources and Gaps................................................................................................................ 65 Information Sources ............................................................................................................................ 65 Data Gaps ............................................................................................................................................ 67 Rio Grande National Forest - 1 – Forestwide Planning Assessment Rio Grande National Forest Draft Assessment 2 – Air Quality, Soils, Geology, Watersheds and Water Resources Existing Forest Plan Direction for Watersheds and Water Resources .................................................... 67 Desired Conditions .............................................................................................................................. 67 Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 67 Standards and Guidelines .................................................................................................................... 68 Scale of Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 68 Existing Condition and Trend of Watersheds and Water Resources ...................................................... 68 Inventories ........................................................................................................................................... 68 Important Attributes, Characteristics, and Processes .......................................................................... 69 Conditions ........................................................................................................................................... 79 Historical
Recommended publications
  • Department of the Interior Miscellaneous Field Studies United States Geological Survey Map Mf-1628-A Pamphlet
    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MISCELLANEOUS FIELD STUDIES UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MAP MF-1628-A PAMPHLET MINERAL RESOURCE POTENTIAL OF THE BUFFALO PEAKS WILDERNESS STUDY AREA, LAKE, PARK, AND CHAFFEE COUNTIES, COLORADO By D. C. Hedlund and G. A. Nowlan, U.S. Geological Survey and R. H. Wood, n, U.S. Bureau of Mines STUDIES RELATED TO WILDERNESS Under the provisions of the Wilderness Act (Public Law 88-577, September 3, 1964) and the Joint Conference Report on Senate Bill 4, 88th Congress, the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Mines have been conducting mineral surveys of wilderness and primitive areas. Areas officially designated as "wilderness," "wild," or "canoe" when the act was passed were incorporated into the National Wilderness Preservation System, and some of them are presently being studied. The act provided that areas under consideration for wilderness designation should be studied for suitability for incorporation into the Wilderness System. The mineral surveys constitute one aspect of the suitability studies. The act directs that the results of such surveys are to be made available to the public and be submitted to the President and the Congress. This report discusses the results of a mineral survey of the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Study Area, Pike and San Isabel National Forests, Lake, Park, and Chaffee Counties, Colo. The area was established as a wilderness study area by Public Law 96-560, December 22, 1980. MINERAL RESOURCE POTENTIAL SUMMARY STATEMENT During 1981 and 1982, the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Mines conducted field investigations to evaluate the mineral resource potential of the Buffalo Peaks Wilde-ness Study Area.
    [Show full text]
  • Land Areas of the National Forest System, As of September 30, 2019
    United States Department of Agriculture Land Areas of the National Forest System As of September 30, 2019 Forest Service WO Lands FS-383 November 2019 Metric Equivalents When you know: Multiply by: To fnd: Inches (in) 2.54 Centimeters Feet (ft) 0.305 Meters Miles (mi) 1.609 Kilometers Acres (ac) 0.405 Hectares Square feet (ft2) 0.0929 Square meters Yards (yd) 0.914 Meters Square miles (mi2) 2.59 Square kilometers Pounds (lb) 0.454 Kilograms United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Land Areas of the WO, Lands National Forest FS-383 System November 2019 As of September 30, 2019 Published by: USDA Forest Service 1400 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20250-0003 Website: https://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/lar-index.shtml Cover Photo: Mt. Hood, Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon Courtesy of: Susan Ruzicka USDA Forest Service WO Lands and Realty Management Statistics are current as of: 10/17/2019 The National Forest System (NFS) is comprised of: 154 National Forests 58 Purchase Units 20 National Grasslands 7 Land Utilization Projects 17 Research and Experimental Areas 28 Other Areas NFS lands are found in 43 States as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. TOTAL NFS ACRES = 192,994,068 NFS lands are organized into: 9 Forest Service Regions 112 Administrative Forest or Forest-level units 503 Ranger District or District-level units The Forest Service administers 149 Wild and Scenic Rivers in 23 States and 456 National Wilderness Areas in 39 States. The Forest Service also administers several other types of nationally designated
    [Show full text]
  • VGP) Version 2/5/2009
    Vessel General Permit (VGP) Version 2/5/2009 United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) VESSEL GENERAL PERMIT FOR DISCHARGES INCIDENTAL TO THE NORMAL OPERATION OF VESSELS (VGP) AUTHORIZATION TO DISCHARGE UNDER THE NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM In compliance with the provisions of the Clean Water Act (CWA), as amended (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), any owner or operator of a vessel being operated in a capacity as a means of transportation who: • Is eligible for permit coverage under Part 1.2; • If required by Part 1.5.1, submits a complete and accurate Notice of Intent (NOI) is authorized to discharge in accordance with the requirements of this permit. General effluent limits for all eligible vessels are given in Part 2. Further vessel class or type specific requirements are given in Part 5 for select vessels and apply in addition to any general effluent limits in Part 2. Specific requirements that apply in individual States and Indian Country Lands are found in Part 6. Definitions of permit-specific terms used in this permit are provided in Appendix A. This permit becomes effective on December 19, 2008 for all jurisdictions except Alaska and Hawaii. This permit and the authorization to discharge expire at midnight, December 19, 2013 i Vessel General Permit (VGP) Version 2/5/2009 Signed and issued this 18th day of December, 2008 William K. Honker, Acting Director Robert W. Varney, Water Quality Protection Division, EPA Region Regional Administrator, EPA Region 1 6 Signed and issued this 18th day of December, 2008 Signed and issued this 18th day of December, Barbara A.
    [Show full text]
  • Rio Grande National Forest – Assessment 12 Areas of Tribal Importance
    Rio Grande National Forest – Assessment 12 Areas of Tribal Importance Rio Grande National Forest – Assessment 12 Areas of Tribal Importance Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 2 Information Sources and Gaps.................................................................................................................. 2 Existing Forest Plan Direction for Tribal Resources ................................................................................ 3 Scale of Analysis ................................................................................................................................... 3 Intertribal and Interagency Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Memorandum of Understanding ................................................................................................................................... 4 Existing Tribal Rights ............................................................................................................................... 4 Previous Treaties with Ute Bands ......................................................................................................... 4 Hunting Rights: The Brunot Treaty ...................................................................................................... 5 Spiritual Rights ....................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Profiles of Colorado Roadless Areas
    PROFILES OF COLORADO ROADLESS AREAS Prepared by the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region July 23, 2008 INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK 2 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS ARAPAHO-ROOSEVELT NATIONAL FOREST ......................................................................................................10 Bard Creek (23,000 acres) .......................................................................................................................................10 Byers Peak (10,200 acres)........................................................................................................................................12 Cache la Poudre Adjacent Area (3,200 acres)..........................................................................................................13 Cherokee Park (7,600 acres) ....................................................................................................................................14 Comanche Peak Adjacent Areas A - H (45,200 acres).............................................................................................15 Copper Mountain (13,500 acres) .............................................................................................................................19 Crosier Mountain (7,200 acres) ...............................................................................................................................20 Gold Run (6,600 acres) ............................................................................................................................................21
    [Show full text]
  • Draft Small Vessel General Permit
    ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM PUBLIC NOTICE The United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 W. Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois has requested a determination from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources if their Vessel General Permit (VGP) and Small Vessel General Permit (sVGP) are consistent with the enforceable policies of the Illinois Coastal Management Program (ICMP). VGP regulates discharges incidental to the normal operation of commercial vessels and non-recreational vessels greater than or equal to 79 ft. in length. sVGP regulates discharges incidental to the normal operation of commercial vessels and non- recreational vessels less than 79 ft. in length. VGP and sVGP can be viewed in their entirety at the ICMP web site http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/cmp/Pages/CMPFederalConsistencyRegister.aspx Inquiries concerning this request may be directed to Jim Casey of the Department’s Chicago Office at (312) 793-5947 or [email protected]. You are invited to send written comments regarding this consistency request to the Michael A. Bilandic Building, 160 N. LaSalle Street, Suite S-703, Chicago, Illinois 60601. All comments claiming the proposed actions would not meet federal consistency must cite the state law or laws and how they would be violated. All comments must be received by July 19, 2012. Proposed Small Vessel General Permit (sVGP) United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) SMALL VESSEL GENERAL PERMIT FOR DISCHARGES INCIDENTAL TO THE NORMAL OPERATION OF VESSELS LESS THAN 79 FEET (sVGP) AUTHORIZATION TO DISCHARGE UNDER THE NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM In compliance with the provisions of the Clean Water Act, as amended (33 U.S.C.
    [Show full text]
  • Summits on the Air – ARM for USA - Colorado (WØC)
    Summits on the Air – ARM for USA - Colorado (WØC) Summits on the Air USA - Colorado (WØC) Association Reference Manual Document Reference S46.1 Issue number 3.2 Date of issue 15-June-2021 Participation start date 01-May-2010 Authorised Date: 15-June-2021 obo SOTA Management Team Association Manager Matt Schnizer KØMOS Summits-on-the-Air an original concept by G3WGV and developed with G3CWI Notice “Summits on the Air” SOTA and the SOTA logo are trademarks of the Programme. This document is copyright of the Programme. All other trademarks and copyrights referenced herein are acknowledged. Page 1 of 11 Document S46.1 V3.2 Summits on the Air – ARM for USA - Colorado (WØC) Change Control Date Version Details 01-May-10 1.0 First formal issue of this document 01-Aug-11 2.0 Updated Version including all qualified CO Peaks, North Dakota, and South Dakota Peaks 01-Dec-11 2.1 Corrections to document for consistency between sections. 31-Mar-14 2.2 Convert WØ to WØC for Colorado only Association. Remove South Dakota and North Dakota Regions. Minor grammatical changes. Clarification of SOTA Rule 3.7.3 “Final Access”. Matt Schnizer K0MOS becomes the new W0C Association Manager. 04/30/16 2.3 Updated Disclaimer Updated 2.0 Program Derivation: Changed prominence from 500 ft to 150m (492 ft) Updated 3.0 General information: Added valid FCC license Corrected conversion factor (ft to m) and recalculated all summits 1-Apr-2017 3.0 Acquired new Summit List from ListsofJohn.com: 64 new summits (37 for P500 ft to P150 m change and 27 new) and 3 deletes due to prom corrections.
    [Show full text]
  • Table 7 - National Wilderness Areas by State
    Table 7 - National Wilderness Areas by State * Unit is in two or more States ** Acres estimated pending final boundary determination + Special Area that is part of a proclaimed National Forest State National Wilderness Area NFS Other Total Unit Name Acreage Acreage Acreage Alabama Cheaha Wilderness Talladega National Forest 7,400 0 7,400 Dugger Mountain Wilderness** Talladega National Forest 9,048 0 9,048 Sipsey Wilderness William B. Bankhead National Forest 25,770 83 25,853 Alabama Totals 42,218 83 42,301 Alaska Chuck River Wilderness 74,876 520 75,396 Coronation Island Wilderness Tongass National Forest 19,118 0 19,118 Endicott River Wilderness Tongass National Forest 98,396 0 98,396 Karta River Wilderness Tongass National Forest 39,917 7 39,924 Kootznoowoo Wilderness Tongass National Forest 979,079 21,741 1,000,820 FS-administered, outside NFS bdy 0 654 654 Kuiu Wilderness Tongass National Forest 60,183 15 60,198 Maurille Islands Wilderness Tongass National Forest 4,814 0 4,814 Misty Fiords National Monument Wilderness Tongass National Forest 2,144,010 235 2,144,245 FS-administered, outside NFS bdy 0 15 15 Petersburg Creek-Duncan Salt Chuck Wilderness Tongass National Forest 46,758 0 46,758 Pleasant/Lemusurier/Inian Islands Wilderness Tongass National Forest 23,083 41 23,124 FS-administered, outside NFS bdy 0 15 15 Russell Fjord Wilderness Tongass National Forest 348,626 63 348,689 South Baranof Wilderness Tongass National Forest 315,833 0 315,833 South Etolin Wilderness Tongass National Forest 82,593 834 83,427 Refresh Date: 10/14/2017
    [Show full text]
  • PIKE and SAN ISABEL NATIONAL FORESTS Antelope Creek (6,900 Acres)
    PIKE AND SAN ISABEL NATIONAL FORESTS Antelope Creek (6,900 acres) ......................................................................................................... 3 Aspen Ridge (14,200 acres) ............................................................................................................ 4 Babcock Hole (8,900 acres) ............................................................................................................ 5 Badger Creek (12,400 acres)........................................................................................................... 7 Boreas (10,200 acres)...................................................................................................................... 8 Buffalo Peaks East (5,700 acres) .................................................................................................... 9 Buffalo Peaks South (15,300 acres) .............................................................................................. 10 Buffalo Peaks West (8,300 acres) ................................................................................................. 12 Burning Bear (19,300 acres) ......................................................................................................... 13 Chicago Ridge (5,900 acres) ......................................................................................................... 14 Chipeta (28,700 acres) .................................................................................................................. 15 Cuchara North
    [Show full text]
  • Mile High Mountaineer the Newsletter of the Denver Group of the Colorado Mountain Club
    Mile High Mountaineer The newsletter of the Denver Group of the Colorado Mountain Club www.cmc.org May www.hikingdenver.net 2015 www.facebook.com/CMC_Denver Volume 47, No.5 www.twitter.com/CMC_Denver Hikers head to the summit of Mount RAMPART RANGE ROADLESS Parnassus from Watrous Gulch in AREA TRAIL WORK July 2013, Photo by June 13 and 14 Steve Knapp Please plan to join the Denver and Pikes Peak groups for a trail work weekend in the northern end of the Rampart Range Roadless Area. We’ll be working on Saturday, June 13 (and maybe also part of Sunday), with the US Forest Service to close an illegal motorcycle route into the roadless area. Registration: cmc.org/calendar You can send questions to: Steve Bonowski [email protected]. ALDERFER/THREE SISTERS JUMP START YOUR SUMMER WITH HIKE SURGE FORESTRY PROJECT Denver Group encourages new members to get June 13 and 27 outdoors May 2 to 10 with 10 hikes in 9 days Jefferson County Open Space is By Maddie Philley, Denver Group Council Member removing Douglas fir trees on 23 acres in Alderfer/Three Sisters open space park. To encourage new members to participate in club activities, the Denver Group is holding a Volunteers are needed on Saturdays, “surge” of A and B hikes from May 2 to May 10. These hikes are for everyone. We will offer ap- June 13 and 27, to remove fir seedlings and proximately 10 surge hikes, in addition to those that were already scheduled. gather and stack tree limbs. If you are a current member, this is a great time for you to sign up for a hike: the weather is Online registration is available at beautiful and swimsuit season is coming.
    [Show full text]
  • APPENDIX A. LIST of MAP REFERENCES Halfmoon Creek (07083000) A
    APPENDIX A. LIST OF MAP REFERENCES Halfmoon Creek (07083000) a. U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps: · Lake County, Colorado (1:50,000), 1975 · Mount Elbert, Colorado (1:24,000), 1979 · Mount Massive, Colorado (1:24,000), 1967, streamflow-gaging station · Mt. Champion, Colorado (1:24,000), 1960 b. Geologic maps: · Tweto, Ogden, and Reed, J.C., Jr., 1973, Reconnaissance geologic map of the Mount Elbert 15-minute quadrangle, Lake, Chaffee, and Pitkin Counties, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 72–287. · Van Loenen, R.E., 1985, Geologic map of the Mount Massive Wilderness, Lake County, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map 1792–A, 1 pl., scale 1:50,000. · Van Loenen, R.E., Lee, G.K., Campbell, D.L., and Thompson, J.R, 1989, Mineral resource potential of Mount Massive Wilderness, Lake County, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1636, 18 p. c. Soil surveys: · U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1975, Soil survey of Chaffee-Lake area, Colorado: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, 78 p. d. Other maps: · Leadville, Colorado, 30' x 60' quadrangle, Bureau of Land Management, 1983, scale 1:100,000. Vallecito Creek near Bayfield, Colorado (09352900) a. U.S. Geological Survey Topographic Maps · Columbine Pass, Colorado (1:24,000), 1975 · Emerald Lake, Colorado (1:24,000), 1973 · La Plata County, Colorado (1:50,000), 1975 · Rio Grande Pyramid, Colorado (1:24,000), 1975 · Storm King Peak, Colorado (1:24,000), 1975 · Vallecito Reservoir, Colorado (1:24,000), 1971, streamflow-gaging station b. Geologic maps: · Cross, W., and Larsen, E.S., 1935, A brief review of the geology of the San Juan Region of southwestern Colorado: U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • One Hundred Third Congress of the United States of America
    H. R. 631 One Hundred Third Congress of the United States of America AT THE FIRST SESSION Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the fifth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-three An Act To designate certain lands in the State of Colorado as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND DEFINITIONS. (a) SHORT TITLE.ÐThis Act may be cited as the ``Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993''. (b) DEFINITIONS.Ð(1) As used in this Act with reference to lands in the National Forest System, the term ``the Secretary'' means the Secretary of Agriculture. (2) As used in this Act with respect to lands not in the National Forest System, the term ``the Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior. SEC. 2. ADDITIONS TO THE WILDERNESS PRESERVATION SYSTEM. (a) ADDITIONS.ÐThe following lands in the State of Colorado are hereby designated as wilderness and, therefore, as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1) Certain lands in the Gunnison Resource Area adminis- tered by the Bureau of Land Management which comprise approximately 3,390 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled ``American Flats Additions to the Big Blue Wilderness Proposal (American Flats)'', dated January, 1993, and which are hereby incorporated in and shall be deemed to be a part of the wilderness area designated by section 102(a)(1) of Public Law 96±560 and renamed Uncompahgre Wilderness by section 3(f) of this Act.
    [Show full text]