United States Department of Agriculture San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Management Plan Final Environmental Assessment Forest Service Angeles National Forest Los Angeles County, California April 2018 For More Information Contact: Rachel Smith Angeles National Forest 701 N. Santa Anita Ave. Arcadia, CA 91006 Phone: (626) 574-5215 Fax: (626) 574-5235 In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, 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. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.htmland 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. San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Final Environmental Assessment Contents Chapter 1. Purpose and Need ...................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 Management Direction ........................................................................................................ 1 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................................... 2 Transportation and Access ................................................................................................... 3 Sustainable Recreation ........................................................................................................ 3 Heritage Resources .............................................................................................................. 4 Biological Resources ........................................................................................................... 4 Mineral Resources ............................................................................................................... 4 Public Involvement ................................................................................................................. 4 Introduction......................................................................................................................... 4 Scoping ............................................................................................................................... 5 Draft EA Opportunity for Public Comment.......................................................................... 6 Tribal Consultation ................................................................................................................. 8 Chapter 2. Proposed Action and Alternative Development ........................................................ 11 Monument Planning Location ............................................................................................... 11 Alternatives Development ..................................................................................................... 13 Alternatives Analyzed in Detail ............................................................................................ 13 Alternative 1 ..................................................................................................................... 13 Alternative 2 ..................................................................................................................... 13 Alternative 3 ..................................................................................................................... 26 Alternatives Considered, but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis from Scoping ................. 39 Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ......................................... 40 Analysis Area ....................................................................................................................... 40 Analysis Assumptions ........................................................................................................... 40 Heritage Resources ............................................................................................................... 41 Affected Environment ....................................................................................................... 41 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................ 46 Hydrology ............................................................................................................................ 49 Affected Environment ....................................................................................................... 49 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................ 62 Recreation ............................................................................................................................ 66 Affected Environment ....................................................................................................... 66 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................ 78 Scenery ................................................................................................................................. 85 Affected Environment ....................................................................................................... 85 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................ 90 Socioeconomics .................................................................................................................... 92 Affected Environment ....................................................................................................... 92 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................ 96 Environmental Justice ........................................................................................................... 99 Affected Environment ....................................................................................................... 99 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................................... 102 Mineral Resources .............................................................................................................. 104 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................... 104 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................................... 106 Angeles National Forest iii San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Final Environmental Assessment Aquatic Wildlife Species .................................................................................................... 109 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................... 109 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................................... 111 Terrestrial Wildlife Species ................................................................................................. 119 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................... 119 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................................... 127 Botanical Resources ............................................................................................................ 132 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................... 132 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................................... 142 Transportation ...................................................................................................................