OHV-Sand Camping Project Environmental Assessment Siuslaw National Forest South Zone District Lane, Douglas, and Coos Counties, Oregon Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Official: Jose Linares, Forest Supervisor Siuslaw National Forest 4077 Research Way Corvallis, OR 97333 For Information Contact: Paul Thomas, South Zone Team Leader South Zone District 4480 Hwy. 101, Building G. Florence, Oregon 97439 (541) 902-6985 [email protected] The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all bases apply to all programs). Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326- W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. OHV Sand Camping Project Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposed action and will be available for public inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, those who only submit anonymous comments will not have standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR part 215. Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27 (d), any person may request the agency to withhold a submission from the public record by showing how the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits such confidentiality. Person requesting such confidentiality should be aware that, under the FOIA, confidentiality may be granted in only very limited circumstances, such as to protect trade secrets. ii OHV Sand Camping Project Contents Chapter 1. Why is this project needed, and what evidence established this need? 1 [“Purpose of and Need for Action”] The Proposed Project 1 The Planning Area 2 The Problems (Issues) To Be Addressed 2 Evidence Used by the Forest Supervisor in Deciding to Address These Problems 3 Help From Other Agencies and the Public 5 Decision Framework 6 Chapter 2. What alternatives were developed to meet the identified needs? 9 [“Alternatives Including the Preferred Alternative”] Alternatives Considered But Eliminated from Detailed Study 9 Alternatives Considered in Detail 10 Alternative 1: No action 11 Alternative 2: Number of campsites based on current high-use periods; developed staging capacity higher than that identified in the Dunes Plan 11 Alternative 3: Number of campsites based on permits issued in 1998 and 1999; developed staging capacity at the level identified in the Dunes Plan 12 Alternative 4: Number of campsites based on the estimated maximum capacity (proposed project); developed staging capacity higher than that identified in the Dunes Plan 13 Comparison of Alternatives 14 Chapter 3. What environmental effects are predicted for each alternative? 41 [“Environmental Consequences”] Predicted Effects of Designating Dispersed Sand Camping Sites and Increasing Staging Area Capacity on Addressing the Problems 42 Recreation Experience 42 Employee Safety 45 Visitor Safety 46 Ability To Prevent Violations and Enforce Regulations 47 Predicted Effects of Designating Dispersed Sand Camping Sites and Increasing Staging Area Capacity on Other Resources 48 Wildlife Species 48 Botanical Resources 51 Soil Productivity 55 Fish Species and Habitats 55 Water Quality 58 Riparian Reserves and Aquatic Conservation Strategy 59 Heritage Resources 61 Scenery 61 Fire 62 Public and Management Access 63 iii OHV Sand Camping Project Other Predicted Effects 64 Cumulative Effects 64 Short-Term Uses and Long-Term Productivity 69 Unavoidable Adverse Effects 69 Irreversible Resource Commitments 69 Irretrievable Commitment of Resources 69 Environmental Justice 70 Other Disclosures 70 Chapter 4. Who was consulted about this project? 71 [“Consultation With Others”] Consultation with Regulatory Agencies 71 Consultation with Indian Tribes 71 Consultation with Other Agencies and Local Entities During Scoping 71 References 75 Glossary 78 Table Titles Table 1. Comparing the key quantitative differences of Alternatives 1, 2, 3, and 4 14 Table 2. Comparing likely effects of Alternatives 1, 2, 3, and 4, based on how well they address the need and associated problems 15 Table 3. Comparing the Dunes Plan and alternative staging area capacities 44 Table 4. Acres infested by noxious weeds and invasive plants on the ODNRA 54 Table 5. Gamefish present in lakes in OHV riding areas of the ODNRA 56 Table 6. Cost summary for Horsfall staging area 64 Table 7. Alternative capacity analysis summary 66 Maps Project vicinity Alternative 2—North, Umpqua, South Alternative 3—North, Umpqua, South Alternative 4—North, Umpqua, South Dunes Plan Management Areas—North, Umpqua, South Appendices Appendix A. OHV-Sand Camping Project Design Criteria Appendix B. List of Contributors Appendix C. Preliminary Analysis Comments and Resolutions iv Why is the project needed? Why is the project needed, and what CHAPTER 1 evidence established these needs? Chapter titles are framed as questions intended to focus the writing and to alert readers to judge whether the answers provided are adequate. For readers accustomed to earlier environmental documents, chapter 1 is equivalent to the "Purpose and Need for Action" section. The Proposed Project Introduction—The Forest Supervisor proposed the OHV-Sand Camping Project (the Project) to designate the quantity and locations of dispersed sand camping sites in the off-highway vehicle (OHV) areas (Management Areas 10B and 10C) of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (ODNRA). The Forest Supervisor also proposed to build a new staging area facility in the Horsfall area (Bark Road; Management Area 10D). Implementation of the permit system for designated sand-camping sites is expected to begin January 2005. Building the staging area will occur when funding is secured, possibly three years from now. Sand camping and the staging area activities are connected actions because the proposed staging area facility occupies sites that have been used as sand camps in the past. In addition, both of these uses affect the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) class of semi-primitive motorized recreation experience, serve the needs of off-highway vehicle users, and affect the natural resources of the area. The proposed project is designed to address the problems discussed in The Problems To Be Addressed. As mitigation for changes to existing dispersed camping and staging area opportunities, the capacity of the staging area would be greater than that described in the Management Plan for the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (Dunes Plan; USDA 1994), requiring a non-significant amendment to the Dunes Plan. Alternative 4 is considered and displayed as the proposed project. Descriptions of the proposed project and other alternatives are located in chapter 2, pages 8 to 11. Relationship to the Siuslaw Forest Plan—Congress passed legislation establishing the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area for the purposes of “…public outdoor recreation use and enjoyment … and the conservation of scenic, scientific, historic, and other values contributing to public enjoyment of such lands and waters, …” (PL92-260). The Siuslaw Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Siuslaw Forest Plan; USDA 1990), as amended by the Northwest Forest Plan (USDA, USDI 1994b) and the Dunes Plan, described the resource management practices, levels of management, and suitability of Forest lands for resource management. On the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, it established: • Multiple-use goals and ecosystem management objectives; • Standards and guidelines to fulfill requirements of the National Forest Management Act of 1976; • Separate management areas with different resource emphases; and 1 Why is the project needed? • Management area direction, including management area prescriptions and standards and guidelines for management activities in specific management areas. All relevant aspects of the amended Siuslaw Forest Plan—such as management area standards and guidelines—apply to this project. Thus, this assessment is tiered to the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Siuslaw National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (USDA 1990), as amended by the Final Environmental Impact Statement on Management of Habitat for Late-Successional and Old-Growth Forests Related Species Within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl (Northwest Forest Plan; USDA, USDI 1994a), and the Final EIS and Management Plan for the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (USDA 1994). Riparian reserve, as prescribed by the Northwest Forest Plan, is located in the project area. The Planning Area The Project area is located on the ODNRA between Florence and North Bend, Oregon and is about 55 air miles southwest of Eugene, Oregon (map 1). It involves about 12,440 acres of land managed by U.S. Forest Service. The project area is located in portions of Township 19 South, Range 12 West, sections 3-5, 7-10, 15, 16, 20-22, 27-29, 32, and 33; Township 22 South, Range 12 West, sections 24-26, 28, 35, and 36; Township 23 South, Range 13 West, sections 22, 23, 26, 27, 33, and 34; and Township