PROJECT SUMMARY TRANSFORMING THE EAST FORK SAN GABRIEL RIVER

BACKGROUND river bed to create recreational bathing pools. The The [ANF] San Gabriel East Fork has also experienced high levels of litter Mountains National Monument in partnership deposition both in and adjacent to the watercourse. with the Watershed Conservation Authority [WCA] The Regional Water Board determined that the level seeks to transform a 2.5-mile stretch of the East Fork of trash has exceeded the existing Water Quality San Gabriel River through the San Gabriel River Standard necessary to protect the beneficial uses of Confluence with Cattle Canyon Improvements the river. The water quality is impaired due to trash Project (Project). The Project has been put forth to (section 303(d) listing). better manage the recreation use and balance the Current conditions are not sustainable for long- needs for resource protection. term management. The future desired condition is According to the ANF Land Management Plan, to provide balanced, environmentally sustainable “Concentrated Use Areas are locations throughout recreation opportunities to meet the needs of a the national forest where large groups of people growing urban and culturally diverse population. recreate outside of established recreation facilities. The Project is proposed to provide recreational These locations are often along rivers and streams improvements, enhancing access and quality of with easy road access, and lack the trash collection, recreation, and ecological restoration opportunities restroom, and other facilities found at traditional to address resource management challenges with a developed sites.” The East Fork San Gabriel River focus on mitigating impacts along the most heavily and Cattle Canyon are amongst the most popular used section of the river. Concentrated Use Areas in the ANF for weekend use. The majority of the public use occurs within the PROJECT LOCATION Project Site where visitors can park and easily access The Project site is located approximately 14 miles the river within a few hundred feet. north of the city of Azusa on federal land managed The heavy use combined with the lack of facilities by the ANF National has resulted in the degradation of the project Monument, and includes an approximately 1.5- site. Impacts include damage to vegetation, soil mile long portion of the East Fork of the San Gabriel compaction and erosion, on-site litter, and stream River located along East Fork Road and Camp Bonita alteration where visitors build rock dams in the Prairie Fork Road. PROJECT PURPOSE & NEED Recreational use is highly concentrated within areas of the Project site. This heavy use combined with the lack of facilities has resulted in degraded conditions. In response, the Project has been proposed to better manage the recreation use and balance the needs for resource protection. The purpose and need: • Provide recreation facilities and infrastructure that are high quality, well-maintained, safe, accessible and consistent with visitors’ expectations. • Shift and concentrate recreational use to certain areas in order to minimize adverse effects over a broader area. • Promote stewardship of public land by providing quality and sustainable recreation opportunities that result in increased visitor satisfaction. • Allow for better management of the recreation resources on the Forest. • Improve riparian habitat conditions in certain areas and make progress toward enhancing stream habitat conditions by restoring vegetation, minimizing invasive plants and noxious weed presence, and developing access management strategies.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED ACTION The proposed action is to protect and restore the multi-use areas for future public enjoyment. Enhancements are depicted on the Final Conceptual Plan and include establishment of parking spaces, development of new picnic areas, trails, river access points and upgrades to existing facilities, improvements to paved and unpaved roadways, and restoration of riparian and upland vegetation communities. The full description of the proposed action is available on the following websites: www.fs.usda.gov/projects/angeles/landmanagement/projects or www.wca.ca.gov/cattle_canyon

FINALLEGEND CONCEPTUAL PLAN HEATON FLAT AREA River access points Interpretive areas 1 Enhanced picnic area with Restrooms improved trailhead, interpretive 1 Designated picnic area sign, new restroom & river Trailhead access COYOTE FLAT, OVERLOOK, Crosswalk FIRES TATION & CANYON AREAS USFS visitor kiosk Loading area/shuttle stop 1 Developed picnic area & new Paved road restroom with maintenance access Trail and/or Maintenance access road CONFLUENCE AREA road East Fork Scenic Trail 1 Parking Scenic overlook with 2 Scenic overlook with planters, 3 Expansion of existing Oaks Picnic Area, East Fork Eldoradoville interpretive seatwalls, native tree plantings, including more sites, larger tables, 2 3 Existing Cattle Canyon Bridge element, East Fork Scenic monument sign, “Geology Hut” native tree plantings, new restrooms, a with new pedestrian bridge Trail interpretive sign interpretive building, USFS visitor group BBQ area, & botanical interpretive Project boundary 1 6 kiosk, and perimeter path, East area. Existing parking con guration is 2 River access and new single 4 Fork Scenic Trail interpretive sign retained. restroom 5 3 Camp Bonita Road turnaround, 4 River access points with parking, native 3 Pedestrian bridge (parallel loading area/shuttle stop, cross tree plantings, East Fork Scenic Trail, with existing bridge) and d R walk, Heaton Flat trailhead, new USFS Visitor Kiosk, picnic area, new ks shuttle stop or restroom F restrooms and loading area/shuttle e i r i

a stop, East Fork Scenic Trail interpretive 4 r Portions of road are 4 P Developed parking area with native a a E st sign t Fo realigned to accommodate rk ni tree plantings, parking kiosk, bus o R B d East Fork Scenic Trail . p parking, new restroom & picnic 5 Botanical interpretive site 1 m a area C

East Fork 5 Stairs from parking area lead 4 4 1 across boardwalk bridge to OAKS AREAS 2 5 3 Botanical Interpretive Trail trailhead 3 2 1 Beginning of East Fork Scenic Trail 1 2 6 Stairway leading from East Fork JUNCTION AREA Scenic Overlook to Coyote Flat 2 River access point with parking, native tree plantings, East Fork Scenic Trail, new 1 Three way stop with emergency vehicle turnaround restrooms, East Fork Scenic Trail interpretive and lockable gate to close Camp Bonita Road sign

2 Portions of road are realigned to accommodate East Fork Scenic Trail 0’ 300’ 700’

Cattle Canyon Project . 140225 SOURCE: BlueGreen Consulting Figure 2-2 Conceptual Site Plan