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Environmental Assessment Department of Agriculture Rampart Range Recreation Area Forest Motorized Roads and Trails Plan Service

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Environmental Assessment Department of Agriculture Rampart Range Recreation Area Forest Motorized Roads and Trails Plan Service United States Environmental Assessment Department of Agriculture Rampart Range Recreation Area Forest Motorized Roads and Trails Plan Service July 2005 South Platte Ranger District Pike and San Isabel National Forests Douglas County, Colorado For more information contact: John R. Kirkaldie, Interdisciplinary Team Leader 303-275-5610 Scott Dollus, Recreation Planner South Platte Ranger District 303-275-5610 Randy Hickenbottom, District Ranger South Platte Ranger District 303-275-5610 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Person with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, th Whitten Building, 14 and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Environmental Assessment Rampart Range Recreation Area Motorized Roads and Trails Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1. PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION A. Introduction .........................................................................................................1-1 B. Location and Setting ...........................................................................................1-1 C. Background .........................................................................................................1-1 D. Purpose ................................................................................................................1-4 E. Need ....................................................................................................................1-4 F. Proposed Action ..................................................................................................1-5 G. Decisions Framework ..........................................................................................1-5 H. Public Involvement ..............................................................................................1-6 I. Key Issues ............................................................................................................1-8 J. Issues Not Selected for Detailed Analysis ............................................................1-9 CHAPTER 2. ALTERNATIVES A. Introduction..........................................................................................................2-1 B. Actions Common to All Alternatives...................................................................2-1 C. Alternatives Considered in Detail ........................................................................2-1 1. Alternative A -No Action Alternative.........................................................2-1 2. Alternative B...............................................................................................2-2 3. Alternative C – Proposed Action .................................................................2-4 D. Mitigation Measures ..........................................................................................2-11 1. Water Quality and Aquatic Resources......................................................2-11 2. Wildlife .....................................................................................................2-11 3. Heritage.....................................................................................................2-12 4. Noxious Weeds .........................................................................................2-13 5. General......................................................................................................2-13 E. Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study ..........................2-14 1. Rampart Range Road ................................................................................2-14 2. Regional Motorized Trail Connections.....................................................2-14 3. Elements Not Addressed in the Purpose and Need...................................2-14 F. Comparison of Alternative Effect......................................................................2-14 CHAPTER 3. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES A. Background ..........................................................................................................3-1 B. Physical Resources...............................................................................................3-1 1. Hydrology ...................................................................................................3-1 2. Soils...........................................................................................................3-10 3. Floodplains, Wetlands and Riparian Areas...............................................3-14 4. Heritage Resources ...................................................................................3-18 5. Air Quality ................................................................................................3-21 6. Fire ............................................................................................................3-26 Table of Contents i-i Rampart Range Recreation Area Motorized Roads and Trails Plan Environmental Assessment C. Biological Resources..........................................................................................3-28 1. Terrestrial Wildlife ...................................................................................3-28 2 Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ..............................................................3-35 3. Vegetation and Timber Management........................................................3-43 4. Noxious Weeds .........................................................................................3-46 D. Economic and Social.........................................................................................3-48 1. Recreation .................................................................................................3-48 2. Land Use ...................................................................................................3-56 3. Noise .........................................................................................................3-59 4. Transportation System ..............................................................................3-64 5. Social and Economic.................................................................................3-68 E. Effects Summary ...............................................................................................3-71 1. Irretrievable and Irreversible Commitment of Resources.........................3-71 2. Reasonable Foreseeable Future Actions ...................................................3-72 CHAPTER 4. LIST OF PREPARERS AND CONTRIBUTERS A. ID Core Team Members ......................................................................................4-1 B. Extended ID Team Members...............................................................................4-1 C. Federal, State and Local Agencies.......................................................................4-2 D. Tribes ..................................................................................................................4-2 E. Others...................................................................................................................4-3 APPENDICES Appendix A – Glossary Appendix B – References Appendix C – Roads Analysis Appendix D – Parking Area Concepts Appendix E – Cost/Benefit Spreadsheets MAPS Map 1-1 – Project Area.................................................................................................1-2 Map 2-1 – Alternative A...............................................................................................2-5 Map 2-2 – Alternative B ...............................................................................................2-7 Map 2-3 – Alternative C ...............................................................................................2-9 Appendix C - Map 1 – Existing Roads ......................................................................C-71 TABLES Table 1-1 – Management Areas....................................................................................1-7 Table 2-1: Comparison of Alternatives by Road and Trail Miles ...............................2-2 Table 2-2: Comparison of Parking Area Facilities Improvements ..............................2-3 Table 2-3: Comparison of Alternative Effect ............................................................2-15 Table 3-1: Sixth-Level Watersheds .............................................................................3-2 i-ii Table of Contents Environmental Assessment Rampart Range Recreation Area Motorized Roads and Trails Plan Table 3-2: Road and Trail Crossings of Intermittent and Perennial Streams ..............3-5 Table 3-3: Length within the Water Influence Zone ...................................................3-6 Table 3-4: Acres of Riparian Habitat.........................................................................3-15 Table 3-5: Roads and Trails in Riparian Habitat .......................................................3-18 Table 3-6: National Ambient
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