Table of Contents STEP 1: SETTING UP THE ANALYSIS ............................................................................. 4 BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................... 4 OBJECTIVES OF SUB PART A ............................................................................................... 5 SCALE OF SUB PART A TRAVEL ANALYSIS ............................................................................ 5 SCOPE OF TRAVEL ANALYSIS .............................................................................................. 5 Expressed Concerns Not Evaluated ............................................................................. 6 Issues Carried Forward ................................................................................................ 7 ANALYSIS TEAM MEMBERS .................................................................................................. 8 TRAVEL ANALYSIS PROCESS ............................................................................................... 8 PRODUCTS ........................................................................................................................ 9 STEP 2: CURRENT SITUATION ...................................................................................... 10 SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST ................................................................................................ 10 CURRENT MANAGEMENT DIRECTION .................................................................................. 11 1991 Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (FLRMP) ................................... 11 2005 Roads Analysis Process (RAP) ......................................................................... 13 2010 Motorized Travel Management Plan .................................................................. 14 SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST ROAD SYSTEM ......................................................................... 14 General Description .................................................................................................... 14 Road Management Activities ...................................................................................... 17 Jurisdiction and Rights-of-Way ................................................................................... 18 Other Forest Service Road Categories ....................................................................... 19 Other Transportation Systems .................................................................................... 20 STEP 3: ISSUES AND CONCERNS ................................................................................. 23 BENEFITS OF ROADS ........................................................................................................ 23 Administrative Needs for NF Roads ........................................................................... 23 2 Destination Recreation Access ................................................................................... 25 Dispersed Recreational Uses of NF Roads ................................................................ 27 RISKS FROM ROADS ......................................................................................................... 28 Non-motorized Recreation Disturbance ...................................................................... 28 Heritage and Cultural Conflicts ................................................................................... 28 Watershed Affects ...................................................................................................... 28 Risks to Terrestrial and Avian Species ....................................................................... 29 Risks to Aquatic and Riparian Species ....................................................................... 30 Effects on Wildfire Protection ..................................................................................... 31 Effects on Air Quality .................................................................................................. 31 Risks to Botanical Resources ..................................................................................... 31 ROAD SYSTEM MANAGEMENT ........................................................................................... 32 STEP 4: ASSESSING RISKS AND BENEFITS ................................................................ 34 BENEFITS OF ROADS ........................................................................................................ 34 Administrative Needs for NF Roads ........................................................................... 34 Destination Recreation Access Roads ....................................................................... 35 Dispersed Recreational Uses of NF Roads ................................................................ 35 RISKS FROM ROADS ......................................................................................................... 36 Non-motorized Recreation Disturbance ...................................................................... 36 Heritage and Cultural Conflicts ................................................................................... 37 Watershed Affects ...................................................................................................... 38 Risks to Terrestrial and Avian Wildlife ........................................................................ 39 Risks to Aquatic and Riparian Species ....................................................................... 39 Effects on Wildfire Protection ..................................................................................... 40 Risks to Botanical Resources ..................................................................................... 41 ROAD SYSTEM SUSTAINABILITY ......................................................................................... 41 3 Financial Resources ................................................................................................... 41 Current Annual Road Maintenance Program .............................................................. 42 Reduced Road Mileage Strategy ................................................................................ 43 Two Tiered High Clearance Road System ................................................................. 44 STEP 5: RECOMMENDATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES ................................................ 46 RESOURCE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................... 46 ROAD SYSTEM MANAGEMENT ........................................................................................... 46 STEP 6: REPORTING ....................................................................................................... 48 ANALYSIS PRODUCTS ....................................................................................................... 48 Roads Likely Not Needed in the Future ...................................................................... 48 Roads Likely Needed in the Future ............................................................................ 48 Interactive Maps ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Sustainability Analysis ................................................................................................ 49 APPENDIX A: LIST OF ROADS LIKELY NOT NEEDED IN THE FUTURE..................... 50 APPENDIX B: LIST OF ROADS LIKELY NEEDED IN THE FUTURE ............................ 51 APPENDIX C: MAP OF ROAD LIKELY NEEDED OR NOT NEEDED IN THE FUTURE 52 APPENDIX D: SUSTAINABILITY ANALYSIS .................................................................. 53 STEP 1: SETTING UP THE ANALYSIS BACKGROUND In 2005, the Forest Service issued the final Travel Management Rule (36 CFR 212). The Travel Management Rule revised Forest Service directions concerning the management, use, and maintenance of the National Forest Transportation System. In order to designate a sustainable transportation system, halt cross country motorized travel and to provide consistent over snow motorized use the Travel Management Rule was broken down into three subparts: 4 Subpart A Identify the minimum road system needed for safe and efficient travel as well as for the administration, utilization, and protection of National Forest System (NFS) lands. Subpart B Designate the NF Transportation System; roads, motorized trails and areas. Subpart C Designate an over snow vehicle system. This Travel Analysis Report addresses the concerns of Subpart A, identifying roads not likely needed in the future. The overall goal is to provide a financially and environmentally sustainable road system, to meet the expectation for utilization for the National Forest Lands and to maintain a safe road system for all users of the Sierra National Forest. The Sierra NF completed Subpart B in 2010, http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sierra/landmanagement/planning/?cid=stelprdb5326018 Subpart C has not been initiated on the Forest yet. OBJECTIVES OF SUB PART A The objective of this analysis is to inform future decisions for a sustainable, safe road system. The primary goal is to list roads likely not needed for future use and suggest recommendations for a sustainable road system. This objective is slightly different than the original published Regulation and was changed by the Chief of the Forest Service on December 17, 2013. SCALE OF SUB PART A TRAVEL ANALYSIS The scale