Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests Roads Analysis Report July 2005 Forest Service U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Forest Service Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests Roads Analysis Report Table of Contents Appendices .................................................................................................................................................................. ii List of Tables............................................................................................................................................................... ii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................................ iii Chapter 1 Setting Up the Analysis ......................................................................................................................... 1-1 Background........................................................................................................................................................... 1-1 Process.................................................................................................................................................................. 1-1 This Report and Products ..................................................................................................................................... 1-2 Objectives of the Analysis ..................................................................................................................................... 1-2 Identify Scale/Analysis Area............................................................................................................................ 1-2 Interdisciplinary Team Members and Participants .............................................................................................. 1-3 Analysis Plan ........................................................................................................................................................ 1-4 Information Used .................................................................................................................................................. 1-4 Public Involvement ............................................................................................................................................... 1-5 Communications Plan ...................................................................................................................................... 1-5 Chapter 2 Describing the Situation........................................................................................................................ 2-6 The Analysis Area ................................................................................................................................................. 2-6 Historical Context ............................................................................................................................................ 2-6 Geographic Areas............................................................................................................................................. 2-9 The National Forest Transportation System....................................................................................................... 2-11 Federal Highways .......................................................................................................................................... 2-11 Colorado State Highways............................................................................................................................... 2-12 County Roads................................................................................................................................................. 2-12 Forest Service Roads...................................................................................................................................... 2-13 Road Designations ......................................................................................................................................... 2-18 Travel Management ............................................................................................................................................ 2-22 Grand Mesa.................................................................................................................................................... 2-22 Uncompahgre................................................................................................................................................. 2-22 Gunnison........................................................................................................................................................ 2-22 Chapter 3 Identifying Issues................................................................................................................................. 3-23 Issues .................................................................................................................................................................. 3-23 Jurisdiction and Ownership............................................................................................................................ 3-23 Water Resources ............................................................................................................................................ 3-23 Environmental Impacts (other than water related issues)............................................................................... 3-25 Road Densities ............................................................................................................................................... 3-25 Historic Significance...................................................................................................................................... 3-25 Road Management Funding ........................................................................................................................... 3-25 County/Forest Relationship............................................................................................................................ 3-26 Population Growth Impacts............................................................................................................................ 3-26 Safety ............................................................................................................................................................. 3-27 Chapter 4 Assessing Benefits, Problems, Risks................................................................................................... 4-28 i U.S. Forest Service Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests Roads Analysis Report Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 4-28 Current Road System Benefits, Problems, and Risks.......................................................................................... 4-30 Aquatic, Riparian, and Water Quality (AQ)................................................................................................... 4-30 Terrestrial Wildlife (TW)............................................................................................................................... 4-43 Ecosystem Functions and Processes (EF) ...................................................................................................... 4-46 Economics (EC) ............................................................................................................................................. 4-49 Commodity Production (TM, RM, WP, SU, SP)........................................................................................... 4-50 General Public Transportation (GT) .............................................................................................................. 4-59 Administrative Use (AU) ............................................................................................................................... 4-66 Protection (PT)............................................................................................................................................... 4-68 Recreation ...................................................................................................................................................... 4-71 Social Issues (SI)............................................................................................................................................ 4-80 Cultural Heritage............................................................................................................................................ 4-86 Civil Rights and Environmental Justice (CR) ................................................................................................ 4-87 Chapter 5 Describing Opportunities, Setting Priorities and Key Findings...................................................... 5-88 Problems and Risks Posed by the Current Road System .................................................................................... 5-88 Introduction.................................................................................................................................................... 5-88 Road Values..................................................................................................................................................