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Hermosa Creek Watershed Management Plan Environmental Assessment

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Hermosa Creek Watershed Management Plan Environmental Assessment Pre-Decisional United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Hermosa Creek Watershed Management Plan Environmental Assessment Columbine Ranger District, San Juan National Forest, La Plata and San Juan Counties, Colorado Ranges 9-11 West, Townships 36-40 West, N.M.P.M. May 2017 Hermosa Creek Watershed Management Plan EA For More Information Contact: Matt Janowiak, Columbine District Ranger or Cam Hooley, Project Leader Columbine Ranger District San Juan National Forest P.O. Box 439 367 South Pearl Street Bayfield, CO 81122 Phone: 970-884-2512 Email: [email protected] Cover Photo: Hermosa Park with historic Harris Ranch in the foreground and Purgatory Ski Area in the background. Photo credit Cam Hooley. In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, office, 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. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD- 3027, found 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: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. p.2 Hermosa Creek Watershed Management Plan EA TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................. 6 Background ............................................................................................................................................................... 6 Need for this Plan ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 Planning Area ........................................................................................................................................................... 7 Management Planning Overview .............................................................................................................................. 9 Document Organization and Terminology ............................................................................................................. 11 Development of Alternatives .................................................................................................................................. 13 2.0 & 3.0 ALTERNATIVES for FOREST PLAN AMENDMENT ....................................................................... 18 2.0 Resource Direction for Hermosa Creek Watershed .......................................................................................... 19 Ecological Framework and Conservation of Species ......................................................................................... 19 Terrestrial Ecosystems and Plant Species .......................................................................................................... 23 Riparian Area and Wetland Ecosystems ............................................................................................................ 25 Aquatic Ecosystems and Fisheries ..................................................................................................................... 25 Invasive Species ................................................................................................................................................. 26 Timber and Other Forest Products ..................................................................................................................... 26 Insects and Disease ............................................................................................................................................ 29 Fire and Fuels Management ............................................................................................................................... 29 Access and Travel Management ........................................................................................................................ 31 Livestock and Rangeland Management ............................................................................................................. 38 Recreation .......................................................................................................................................................... 39 Scenery and Visual Resources ........................................................................................................................... 40 Heritage and Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................................ 48 Lands and Special Uses ...................................................................................................................................... 48 Minerals and Energy .......................................................................................................................................... 49 3.0 Area Direction for Hermosa Creek Watershed ................................................................................................. 54 Columbine Ranger District Geographic Area .................................................................................................... 54 Management Areas ............................................................................................................................................. 54 Wilderness and Recommended Wilderness ....................................................................................................... 58 Allowable Uses Hermosa Creek Watershed ........................................................................................................... 64 Monitoring Plan ...................................................................................................................................................... 65 Comparison of Plan-Level Components ................................................................................................................. 66 4.0 ALTERNATIVES for RECREATION & TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PROJECT ..................................... 67 Roads, Over-Ground Travel ................................................................................................................................... 71 Trails, Over-Ground Travel .................................................................................................................................... 87 Over-Snow Travel .................................................................................................................................................. 92 Dispersed Camping and Developed Recreation Facilities ...................................................................................... 93 Design Criteria for All Action Alternatives ............................................................................................................ 96 Comparison of Project-Level Roads and Trail Mileage ......................................................................................... 98 5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS of IMPACTS .............................................................................................. 99 Recreation ............................................................................................................................................................. 100 Wilderness and Roadless Areas ............................................................................................................................ 111 Watershed, Riparian and Water Resources ........................................................................................................... 115 Vegetation ............................................................................................................................................................. 127 Fisheries ...............................................................................................................................................................
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