Ashley National Forest Plan Revision Public Draft Socioeconomic
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United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Intermountain Region Ashley National Forest Plan Revision Socioeconomic Specialist Report Ashley National Forest 355 North Vernal Ave. Vernal, Utah 84078 September 2017 Prepared by: Environmental Management and Planning Solutions, Inc. 3775 Iris Ave., Suite 1A Boulder, Colorado 80027 In accordance with federal civil rights law and US 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). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY), or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD- 3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by (1) mail: US Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) e-mail: [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1-1 1.1 Region of Influence ....................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Data Sources and Gaps ............................................................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Scale of Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 1-4 2. SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS .................................................... 2-1 2.1 Area Overview .............................................................................................................................. 2-1 2.2 Area Demographics ..................................................................................................................... 2-3 2.2.1 Age .................................................................................................................................... 2-3 2.2.2 Population Size, Density, and Trends ....................................................................... 2-4 2.3 Educational Attainment ............................................................................................................... 2-7 2.4 Housing Statistics .......................................................................................................................... 2-8 2.5 English Proficiency/Language Diversity .................................................................................. 2-10 2.6 Minority and Native American Groups ................................................................................. 2-11 2.7 Employment and Unemployment ............................................................................................ 2-13 2.7.1 Unemployment Data and Trends ............................................................................ 2-13 2.7.2 Economic Specialization and Employment ............................................................. 2-14 2.8 Economic Well-being and Poverty ......................................................................................... 2-16 2.8.1 Labor and Personal Income ....................................................................................... 2-16 2.8.2 Per Capita and Median Household Incomes ......................................................... 2-16 2.8.3 Individuals and Families in Poverty .......................................................................... 2-18 2.9 Public Safety and Services ......................................................................................................... 2-19 2.9.1 Public Safety and Services by County ..................................................................... 2-19 2.9.2 Uniform Crime Rates ................................................................................................. 2-20 2.10 Communities of Place ................................................................................................................ 2-21 2.11 Communities of Interest ........................................................................................................... 2-23 3. ASHLEY NATIONAL FOREST CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS .............................................................................................. 3-1 3.1 Overview of Land Area ............................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 Acres by Landownership Status ................................................................................. 3-1 3.1.2 Overview of Use and Access Patterns ..................................................................... 3-1 3.1.3 Important Cultural or Tribal Use Areas .................................................................. 3-3 3.2 Overview of Market Contributions ......................................................................................... 3-4 3.2.1 Direct Employment by the Forest Service .............................................................. 3-4 3.2.2 Revenue Sharing with Local Governments .............................................................. 3-4 3.2.3 Mineral and Energy Development ............................................................................. 3-5 3.2.4 Timber Resources ....................................................................................................... 3-10 3.2.5 Livestock Grazing ........................................................................................................ 3-10 3.2.6 Tourism and Recreation ............................................................................................ 3-11 3.3 Overview of Ecosystem Service Contributions .................................................................. 3-14 3.3.1 Provisioning Services ................................................................................................... 3-14 3.3.2 Cultural Services .......................................................................................................... 3-15 3.3.3 Regulating Services ...................................................................................................... 3-16 3.3.4 Supporting Services ..................................................................................................... 3-17 September 2017 Ashley National Forest Plan Revision, Socioeconomic Specialist Report i Table of Contents 3.4 Infrastructure Contributions .................................................................................................... 3-17 3.5 Management Operations and Forest Service Budget ......................................................... 3-18 4. MULTIPLE USE............................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Recreation ...................................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1.1 Existing Forest Plan Direction .................................................................................... 4-1 4.1.2 Current Levels of Use and Types of Use ................................................................. 4-2 4.1.3 Recreational Opportunities ......................................................................................... 4-2 4.1.4 Recreation Setting ......................................................................................................... 4-6 4.1.5 Ecosystem Services ........................................................................................................ 4-9 4.1.6 Scenic Character ............................................................................................................ 4-9 4.1.7 Recreation Trends ....................................................................................................... 4-10 4.1.8 Risks, Stressors, and Drivers .................................................................................... 4-11 4.1.9 Contributions of Use/Enjoyment to Economic Sustainability ........................... 4-11 4.1.10 Key Indicators ..............................................................................................................