United States Department of Environmental Agriculture Forest Service Assessment August 2012 Fallen Leaf Lake Trail Access and Travel Management Project Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Region 5 – USDA Forest Service 1 For More Information Contact: USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit 35 College Drive South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 (530) 543-2600 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDAs TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202)720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 2 Table of Contents Chapter 1 ........................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 6 1.1 Document Structure.............................................................................................. 6 1.2 Background .......................................................................................................... 6 1.2.1 Historic Use .................................................................................................... 8 1.2.2 Current Use ..................................................................................................... 8 1.2.3 Ownership ....................................................................................................... 9 1.2.4 Traffic Patterns ............................................................................................... 9 1.2.5 Current Parking..............................................................................................11 1.2.6 Use Conflict ...................................................................................................11 1.3 Overview of the Existing Condition................................................................... 12 1.3.1 Access and Travel Management (ATM) ....................................................... 13 1.4 Desired Condition .............................................................................................. 15 1.5 Purpose and Need for Action ............................................................................. 15 1.6 Summary of the Proposed Action ...................................................................... 15 1.7 Management Direction ....................................................................................... 16 1.8 Decision Framework .......................................................................................... 18 1.9 Public Involvement ............................................................................................ 18 1.10 Issues .................................................................................................................. 18 1.11 Applicable Laws, Regulations, and Policies ......................................................... 20 1.11.1 National Forest Management Act ................................................................ 20 1.11.2 Endangered Species Act .............................................................................. 20 1.11.3 National Historic Preservation Act .............................................................. 20 1.11.4 Clean Water Act (Public Law 92–500) ........................................................ 20 1.11.5 Environmental Justice (Executive Order 12898) ........................................... 21 1.11.6 Invasive Species, Executive Order 13112 of February 3, 1999 .................... 21 1.11.7 Recreational Fisheries, Executive Order 12962 of June 6, 1995 .................. 21 1.11.8 Floodplain Management, Executive Order 11988 of May 24, 1977, and Protection of Wetlands, Executive Order 11990 of May 24, 1977 ............................ 21 1.11.9 Special Area Designations ............................................................................ 21 1.11.10 Local Agency Permitting Requirements and Coordination ........................ 21 Chapter 2 - Alternatives, including the Proposed Action ............................................ 23 2.1 Alternatives ........................................................................................................ 23 2.1.1 Alternatives Considered But Not In Detail ..................................................... 23 2.1.2 Alternatives Considered In Detail................................................................... 25 Alternative 1- No Action ........................................................................................... 25 Alternative 2 – Proposed Action ................................................................................ 25 Alternatives 3 through 6 ............................................................................................ 45 The following section details differences between Alternatives 3 through 6: ........... 46 Alternative 3 .............................................................................................................. 46 Alternative 4 .............................................................................................................. 47 Alternative 5 .............................................................................................................. 47 Alternative 6 .............................................................................................................. 47 ....................................................................................................................................... 48 3 2.2 Resource Protection Measures .............................................................................. 49 Soils and Hydrology ..................................................................................................... 56 Recreation ..................................................................................................................... 57 Scenic Resources .......................................................................................................... 59 Cultural and Heritage Resources .................................................................................. 59 Botany ........................................................................................................................... 60 Wildlife ......................................................................................................................... 61 Aquatic Biology ............................................................................................................ 62 Chapter 3 - Environmental Consequences ................................................................... 64 3.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 64 3.0.1 Organization of Chapter 3 ............................................................................. 64 3.0.2 Projects Considered for Cumulative Effects ................................................ 65 3.0.2.1 Past Projects ................................................................................................. 65 3.0.2.2 Present Projects.......................................................................................... 67 3.0.2.3 Projects in the Planning Stage ................................................................... 67 3.0.3 Resources Considered for Analysis .............................................................. 68 3.1 Soil and Hydrology Resources ........................................................................... 69 3.1.1 Affected Environment and Existing Conditions ........................................... 69 3.1.2 Analysis Indicators and Project Elements with Potential to Affect Hydrology and Soil Resources..................................................................................................... 73 3.1.3 Direct, Indirect and Cumulative Effects ....................................................... 73 3.2 Recreation Resources ......................................................................................... 83 3.2.1 Affected Environment and Existing Conditions ........................................... 83 3.2.2 Analysis Indicators and Project Elements with Potential to Affect Recreation ................................................................................................................................... 88 3.2.3 Direct, Indirect and Cumulative Effects ....................................................... 88 3.3 Scenic Resources ................................................................................................ 96 3.3.1 Affected Environment and Existing Condition ............................................ 96 3.3.2 Analysis indicators .......................................................................................