Deschutes National Forests - Cultus Lake Forest Service Improvements EA Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests Crooked River National Grassland Deschutes & Ochoco Projects & Plans National Forests Home Project Documents About Us Contact Us SCHEDULE OF Current Conditions PROJECTS Employment United States PROJECT FAQ'S Department of Environmental Assessment INFORMATION Fire & Aviation Agriculture Maps & Brochures By Administrative Cultus Lake Forest Service Improvements Newsroom Unit Forest Bend/Ft. Rock Ranger District, Passes & Permits Service Deschutes SO Projects & Plans Deschutes National Forest February 2003 Bend/Fort Rock Schedule of Proposed Deschutes County, Oregon Crescent Actions Sisters Project Information Ochoco SO Plans, Analyses, Lookout Mtn. Assessments For Information Contact: David Frantz Publications Bend/Ft. Rock Ranger District Paulina 1230 NE 3rd St. A-262 Recreational Activities Crooked River NG Bend, OR 97701 Volunteering 541-383-4000 Forest Health, Fire, Fuels, Vegetation Management Newberry National Wildlife Volcanic Monument TABLE OF CONTENTS - FOREST SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS Recreation Conservation Ed. Introduction Land Acquisition Contracting Management Direction Miscellaneous Health Purpose and Need Forest Products PLANS, ANALYSES, Geology Proposed Action ASSESSMENTS Heritage Decision to be Made Partnerships Documents Tiered To Plantlife Documents Incorporated by Reference Water/Fisheries Wildlife Availability of Planning Record Public Involvement/Scoping Process Used Links Comments Received Evaluate Our Service Issues used in Alternative Design We welcome your comments on our service and your Alternative Discussion suggestions for improvement. Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/projects/units/bendrock/cultuslake/cultuslake-ea.shtml (1 of 24)5/21/2007 11:00:37 AM Deschutes National Forests - Cultus Lake Forest Service Improvements EA Forest Alternatives Considered in Detail Mitigation Measures and Management Requirements Deschutes National Forest Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences 1001 SW Emkay Drive Recreation Resource Bend, OR 97702 (541) 383-5300 Fisheries Resource Ochoco National Forest Wildlife Resource 3160 N.E. 3rd Street Botany Resource Prineville, OR 97754 Cultural Resource (541) 416-6500 Crooked River National Scenic Resource Grassland Public Health and Safety 813 S.W. Hwy. 97 Madras, OR 97741 Public/Commercial Firewood Gathering (541) 475-9272 Prime Lands Civil Rights and Environmental Justice Compliance with State and Local Laws Other Effects and Findings Reasonably Foreseeable Actions Adjacent to the Project Area List of Planning Participants LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Alternative Comparison Table 2: Forest Plan Management Indicator Species (MIS) and Habitats Table 3: Species of Concern (USFWS) Table 4: Northwest Forest Plan Table 5: Deschutes National Forest Noxious Weed List LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Locator Map Figure 2: Locator Map Figure 3: Existing Cultus Lake Boat Launch Layout - Existing Parking Area Figure 4: Conceptual View - Cultus Lake Boat Launch and Parking Area - Alternative 2 Figure 5: Conceptual View - Cultus Lake Boat Launch and Parking Area - Alternative 3 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT CULTUS LAKE FOREST SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS INTRODUCTION The Bend-Ft. Rock Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest has analyzed the environmental effects of proposed http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/projects/units/bendrock/cultuslake/cultuslake-ea.shtml (2 of 24)5/21/2007 11:00:37 AM Deschutes National Forests - Cultus Lake Forest Service Improvements EA recreational improvements at a Forest Service developed recreation site at Cultus Lake (Figure 1 and Figure 2) within an Environmental Assessment (EA). The project would include the reconstruction of the existing Forest Service boat ramp (Figure 3) and the improvement of the associated parking area. These Forest Service facilities are located approximately one-half (1/2) mile to the northeast of Cultus Lake Resort. The proposed activities would occur adjacent to the southeast portion of Cultus Lake. The project area is located within the Northwest Forest Plan boundaries in T20S, R7E, Section 12. The elevation is approximately 4,700 feet. There are no inventoried (RARE II) roadless areas or known Threatened or Endangered species within the project area. Redband trout, listed as sensitive on the Region 6, Regional Forester's Sensitive Species List reside within Cultus Lake. The facilities proposed for reconstruction and improvement are located within Riparian and Late-Successional Reserves. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION The Deschutes National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan), 1990, as amended by the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP), 1994, established broad direction for the Forest. The analysis conducted for this project tiers to the Forest Plan and its supporting documentation. The following is a summary of the Management Allocations (MA) associated with the project area as allocated in the Deschutes National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan): ● Intensive Recreation (MA11) - To provide a wide variety of quality outdoor recreation opportunities within a Forest environment where the localized settings may be modified to accommodate large numbers of visitors. The following are summaries of designations of the Northwest Forest Plan associated with the project areas: ● Riparian Reserve - Designated under the Northwest Forest Plan for "restoring and maintaining the ecological health of watersheds and aquatic systems on public lands". ● Late-Successional Reserve - Protect and enhance conditions of late successional and old growth forest ecosystems, which serve as habitat for late successional and old growth related species including the northern spotted owl. Figure 1 - Location of Project on Forest http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/projects/units/bendrock/cultuslake/cultuslake-ea.shtml (3 of 24)5/21/2007 11:00:37 AM Deschutes National Forests - Cultus Lake Forest Service Improvements EA Figure 2 - Detailed Location Map http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/projects/units/bendrock/cultuslake/cultuslake-ea.shtml (4 of 24)5/21/2007 11:00:37 AM Deschutes National Forests - Cultus Lake Forest Service Improvements EA Figure 3- Existing Facilities Map http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/projects/units/bendrock/cultuslake/cultuslake-ea.shtml (5 of 24)5/21/2007 11:00:37 AM Deschutes National Forests - Cultus Lake Forest Service Improvements EA PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/projects/units/bendrock/cultuslake/cultuslake-ea.shtml (6 of 24)5/21/2007 11:00:37 AM Deschutes National Forests - Cultus Lake Forest Service Improvements EA Continued increases in recreational uses are predicted. Facilities and opportunities for new facility development within the Cascade Lakes area are limited. Concerns and opportunities that would enhance the recreational experience for visitors to Cultus Lake have been recognized. Visitors to the area that use the developed facilities at the lake, generally desire facilities that are safe and provide a range of services that accommodate modern motorized travel and recreation. By addressing the identified concerns and opportunities, the forest can move toward the desired condition of providing safe and efficient services that accomodate guests of the public lands, while retaining the character of the Cascade lakes of central Oregon. Concerns have been identified regarding the current design and condition of the Forest Service boat ramp and the efficiency of the associated parking areas. The Forest Service boat ramp is poorly designed for modern boats and trailers, is in a deteriorating condition, and is causing damage to boat trailers and vehicles. The present configuration of the launch area allows only a portion of the boat ramp to be available for launching and retrieving boats. It is common to observe a long line of boaters waiting for an opportunity to launch or retrieve their boats during peak use periods. In addition, the accumulation of sediment, partially displaced from propeller wash, is an impediment for boats leaving the launch area for open water. Parking is inadequate, poorly defined, and unaccommodating, particularly for vehicles with trailers. Congestion is a common problem within the parking areas and in areas where overflow parking occurs. During peak use, overflow parking occurs adjacent to roads accessing forest activity areas and in areas with previous disturbance. Vegetation within the south parking area, in conjunction with vehicle congestion, interferes with a safe line-of-sight for the driver. Trees within the north parking area interfere with efficient parking and present a hazard to the public. There is a need to improve the boat ramp and associated parking areas to operate as a safe, modern and efficient facility while retaining the character of the central Oregon Cascade lakes. PROPOSED ACTION The proposed action would: 1) Remove, reconfigure, and replace the boat ramp and docking area; 2) Dredge to improve access to open water from the boat ramp; 3) Redesign the parking areas to incorporate increased and designated parking that allows for more efficient traffic flow into the launching facilities and a developed campground. More specific information is located below. DECISION TO BE MADE The Deciding Officer is the Bend/Fort Rock District Ranger. The decision will be whether to authorize the actions proposed in this Environmental Assessment, and