Williamson Rock/ Pacific Crest Na Onal Scenic Trail Project Dra Environmental Impact Statement
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United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Williamson Rock/ Pacific Crest Naonal Scenic Trail Project Dra Environmental Impact Statement July 2018 With Technical Assistance by: Williamson Rock/Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail Project SUMMARY Summary S.1 Background Williamson Rock is a well-known recreation area in the Angeles National Forest (ANF), used predominately for rock climbing. It has been utilized by climbers since the 1960’s and is regarded as one of the unique rock climbing resources in southern California, due to its mild summer temperatures and close proximity to urban centers. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) traverses the project area, paralleling and periodically crossing Little Rock Creek and its tributaries for approximately 2 miles. In September 2005, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposed the designation of approximately 8,283 acres of streams and riparian areas as critical habitat for the mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa) (MYLF), 615 acres of which were in Little Rock Creek and surrounded areas of Williamson Rock. The designation triggered a one-year Forest Service closure of the Williamson Rock area that began on December 29, 2005 and has been renewed each year either by Forest Order or court injunction. Since issuing the initial closure, the ANF has also continually received many comments from the public requesting the re-opening of the Williamson Rock area for recreational use. S.2 Purpose and Need The purpose and need for this project is to provide managed recreational activities at Williamson Rock and allow access to the PCT, while protecting the federally listed MYLF and other unique resources. S.2.1 Public Involvement Efforts On August 6, 2014, the ANF issued the Notice of Intent (NOI) announcing the preparation of an EIS for the Williamson Rock/Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail Project. The NOI issuance initiated a 30-day public scoping period that offered members of the public, regulatory agencies, Native American Tribes, and interested parties an opportunity to comment on the scope, content, and issues that should be addressed in the EIS. There was an earlier scoping effort (December 2013 to January 2014) to solicit public input on a proposed Environmental Assessment for a previous version of the proposed action, which was subsequently modified into the EIS to address concerns raised by the public. The modifications to the proposed action were included in the 2014 NOI to prepare the EIS. Both scoping periods are fully documented in the Scoping Report for the Williamson Rock/Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail Project, which is included in the project’s administrative record. S.2.2 Major Issues Raised Based on the comments received during the two scoping periods, the ANF identified four significant issues to be considered in developing alternatives and analyzing effects: Implementation of the proposed action or alternatives allowing human-related activities in the project area could potentially adversely affect MYLF and MYLF Designated Critical Habitat (DCH). Implementation of the proposed action or alternatives allowing human-related activities in the project area could potentially adversely affect peregrine falcons and peregrine falcon nesting habitat. Implementation of the proposed action or alternatives that limit or eliminate access to Williamson Rock could adversely affect public use and enjoyment, particularly for rock climbing activities. July 2018 S-1 Draft EIS Williamson Rock/Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail Project SUMMARY Implementation of alternatives that reroute the congressionally designated PCT may adversely impact public use and enjoyment of the trail, and may not be in the optimal location. These significant issues are discussed in Section 1.3 (Scoping Issues) and are addressed throughout the impact discussions as appropriate (see Chapter 3 [Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences]). S.3 Alternatives The significant scoping issues summarized above led to the development of the following project alternatives: Alternative 1: No Action Under Alternative 1, the project area would be accessible to year-round dispersed recreational use with few existing management measures in place. Alternative 2: Current Closure Management. Alternative 2 would continue the temporary closure of the entire project area. The duration of the long-term closure of the area would be based on MYLF recovery. Alternative 3: Proposed Action (Adaptive Management). Alternative 3 would provide seasonal recreational use at Williamson Rock, year-round use of the PCT in the project area, and implement measures with adaptive management to protect MYLF, MYLF habitat, and other unique resources in the project area. Alternative 4: PCT Reroute (Adaptive Management). Alternative 4 includes all components described in Alternative 3, with the exception that a 2.5-mile segment of the PCT in the project area would be rerouted. Under Alternative 4, the PCT would be rerouted to divert hiking traffic away from Williamson Rock and to avoid crossing Little Rock Creek (MYLF designated critical habitat). Each of the alternatives is described in detail in the EIS Chapter 2. Section 2.3 also includes a summary of additional alternatives that were considered and the rationale for their elimination from further analysis. S.4 Major Conclusions A summary of the environmental impacts that would occur as a result of the Williamson Rock/ Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail Project is included in Table S-1. EIS Chapter 3 (Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences) describes the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of the alternatives for each issue area. Many of the issue area analyses determined that impacts associated with Alternatives 3 and 4 would be identical. Notable differences among the impact discussions were attributed to the 2.5-mile PCT reroute under Alternative 4. Major conclusions include the following: Biological Resources: Of the four project alternatives, Alternative 1 would have the greatest impacts to biological resources and habitat. Impacts to MYLF and its critical habitat from unregulated recreational activity would be substantial, and could result in population decline, loss of viability, or even extirpation in upper Little Rock Creek. The increase in recreational use would have substantial, long-term adverse effects on peregrine falcons at Williamson Rock, and would likely result in the introduction of new weed infestations. Cultural Resources: Adverse impacts to the cultural resource Williamson Rock would potentially be greatest under Alternative 2, as the long-term closure would result in members of the rock climbing Draft EIS S-2 July 2018 Williamson Rock/Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail Project SUMMARY community no longer having access to the area which would otherwise add to its significance as a potential Traditional Cultural Property (TCP). Hydrology and Water Quality: Hydrology impacts would be greatest under Alternative 1 over the long- term due to the effects of year-round recreation on reducing soil productivity, increasing water quality impacts, and erosion. Recreation: Alternative 2 would have the greatest recreation impacts to Williamson Rock by closing the project area to public access and reducing the PCT’s accessibility for day hikers and equestrian users. Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers: Impacts to Wilderness would be greatest under Alternative 4 given the 2.5-mile PCT reroute, which would require new development and public access within the Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness. Impacts to Wild and Scenic Rivers would be greatest under Alternative 1 due to the effects of year-round access within the project area, which would adversely impact Little Rock Creek’s outstandingly remarkable values. July 2018 S-3 Draft EIS Williamson Rock/Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail Project SUMMARY Table S-1. Comparison of Impacts by Alternative Alternative 3: Proposed Alternative 2: Current Action (Adaptive Alternative 4: PCT Reroute Resource Impact Alternative 1: No Action Closure Management Management) (Adaptive Management) Issue #1: Implementation of the proposed action or alternatives that allow human-related activities in the project area could adversely affect MYLF and MYLF Designated Critical Habitat (DCH) Indicator: A qualitative or quantitative description of effects to MYLF populations or individuals attributable to human-related activities in or near MYLF critical habitat. Project construction and subsequent Direct impacts to MYLF may Ongoing closure would Seasonal restrictions would Seasonal restrictions would human activities that disturb endangered, include disturbance of egg protect MYLF from trampling protect MYLF during vulnerable protect MYLF during vulnerable threatened, or proposed plant or animal masses, trampling of individual or other disturbance, which periods (i.e., presence of egg periods (i.e., presence of egg species or their critical habitat [BIO-1] frogs, capturing and handling would create a beneficial masses, breeding period) and masses, breeding period) and of tadpoles and adult frogs, impact to the MYLF would restrict access to would restrict access to stream and generalized disruption of population. stream corridor and other corridor and other areas most mating and migration. Effects areas most likely to contain likely to contain MYLF. Impacts could result in population MYLF. Adverse impacts along PCT would be avoided decline, loss of viability, or would be minimized through through