Travel Analysis Process for the Carson
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Travel Analysis Process United States Department of for the Agriculture Forest Service Carson February 2011 Ranger District Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Resource Report Engineering Travel Analysis Process September 2010 Location: Alpine County, California Sierra County, California Carson City County, Nevada Douglas County, Nevada Washoe County, Nevada Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Intermountain Region (R4) Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest This travel analysis process (TAP) report provides information related to travel analysis in conjunction with the identification and management of the minimum road system on the Carson Ranger District. This TAP includes recommendations that the district can use to identify where both NFS roads and unauthorized routes could be decommissioned, or added to the Forest Transportation System (FTS) to improve recreation access, administration, and protection of the National Forest System lands on the district. This TAP also includes preliminary analysis of the effects of the FTS on biophysical and human resources. Any physical closures, additions, or changes to the FTS pursued by the district based on the recommendations in this TAP would have to be analyzed with the appropriate level of NEPA. This TAP was drafted by an interdisciplinary team from the Carson Ranger District and the Forest Supervisor’s Office of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Travel Analysis Report Carson Ranger District TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP THE ANALYSIS ........................................................................................................ 1 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE .................................................................................................................................... 1 PROCESS ............................................................................................................................................................... 1 PRODUCTS ............................................................................................................................................................ 2 TRAVEL ANALYSIS REPORT ........................................................................................................................................ 2 PROJECT SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................... 2 MANAGEMENT AREA DIRECTION ............................................................................................................................... 3 MINIMUM ROAD SYSTEM ........................................................................................................................................ 4 ROAD MAINTENANCE LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS ................................................................................................................. 5 CHAPTER 2: DESCRIBING THE SITUATION ..................................................................................................... 7 EXISTING ROAD AND TRAIL SYSTEM AND HISTORIC USE .................................................................................................. 7 CHAPTER 3: IDENTIFYING ISSUES ................................................................................................................. 9 KEY ISSUES ............................................................................................................................................................ 9 CHAPTER 4: ASSESSING BENEFITS, PROBLEMS, AND RISKS .......................................................................... 11 ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS AND PROCESSES (EF) ............................................................................................................ 11 AQUATIC, RIPARIAN ZONE, AND WATER QUALITY ....................................................................................................... 13 TERRESTRIAL WILDLIFE .......................................................................................................................................... 21 HERITAGE RESOURCES ........................................................................................................................................... 25 FOREST PRODUCTS ................................................................................................................................................ 27 SPECIAL‐USE PERMITS ........................................................................................................................................... 28 GENERAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ......................................................................................................................... 28 ADMINISTRATIVE USES .......................................................................................................................................... 28 UNROADED RECREATION ........................................................................................................................................ 30 ROAD‐RELATED RECREATION ................................................................................................................................... 32 SOCIAL ISSUES ...................................................................................................................................................... 33 ECONOMIC ISSUES ................................................................................................................................................ 34 CHAPTERS 5 /6: DESCRIBING OPPORTUNITIES AND SETTING PRIORITIES, RECOMMENDATIONS .................. 36 THE MINIMUM ROAD SYSTEM ................................................................................................................................ 36 ACTIONS THAT RESPOND TO THE ISSUES .................................................................................................................... 39 APPENDIX A: GLOSSARY ............................................................................................................................. 42 APPENDIX B: REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................... 43 APPENDIX D: FOREST PLAN DIRECTION ...................................................................................................... 83 i Travel Analysis Report Carson Ranger District ii Travel Analysis Report Carson Ranger District CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP THE ANALYSIS Background and Purpose On January 12, 2001, the Forest Service published its final administrative transportation system policy in the Federal Register (FR Vol. 66, No. 9). Decisions to decommission, reconstruct, construct, and maintain roads are to be informed by a science-based roads analysis. On November 2, 2005, the Forest Service released their final Travel Management Rule (36 CFR parts 212, 251, 262, and 295). This regulation governs the use of motor vehicles, including off highway vehicles (OHV) on National Forest System (NFS) lands. One of the purposes of these policies and rules is to ensure travel analysis is carried out for NFS roads and NFS trails. Travel analysis provides the information needed to ensure the forest transportation system (FTS) will: • Provide safe access and meet the needs of communities and forest users. • Facilitate the implementation of the Toiyabe National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) as amended. • Allow for economical and efficient management within likely budget levels, meeting current and future resource management objectives. • Begin to reverse adverse ecological impacts to the extent practicable. Travel management in the Forest Service was traditionally split between Engineering, for road management, and Recreation, for trails management. The travel management regulation combine the analysis of trails and roads under the travel analysis process (TAP). The Travel Management Rule requires each administrative unit (national forest, national grassland, etc.) or ranger district to designate those NFS roads, NFS trails, and areas on NFS lands that are open to motor vehicle use by class of vehicle and, if appropriate, by time of year (36 CFR 212.51). The key concept underlying the TAP approach is to focus on changes to: • The forest transportation system, or • Restrictions and prohibitions on motor vehicle use. The travel analysis requirements are described in FSM 7700 Travel Management; FSM 7710 (Travel Planning); FSM 7730 (Road Operations); FSM 2350 (Trails); FSH 7709.55 (Travel Analysis); FSH 7709.59 (Road Operations); FSH 2309.18 (Trail Operations). Process Travel analysis