Arkansas River Recreation Management Plan January 2001 ARKANSAS HEADWATERS RECREATION AREA A working partnership between Colorado State Parks and the Bureau of Land Management Robert J. White Dave Taliaferro Park Manager River Manager January 19, 2001 Dear Reader: Enclosed for your use is the Arkansas River Recreation Management Plan. This document depicts the final plan revisions along with the supplemental environmental analysis and record of decision. The document addresses those 760 comments raised during the 30 day public review as well as describes the responses and plan revision in light of those comments. We thank you for your interest in recreation management along the Arkansas River. This plan includes a revised cooperative management agreement in Appendix A. We look forward to working with you in the future in the implementation of this plan. Again, thanks for your involvement with our planning process. Sincerely yours, Robert J. White Dave Taliaferro CDPOR Park Manager BLM River Manager 307 W. Sackett Avenue, Salida, Colorado 81201 Phone: (719) 539-7289 Fax: (719) 539-3771 email: [email protected] Table of Contents Cover Letter .......................................................................................................................................... i Decision Record and Rationale ...................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................. vii Chapter 1 Background and Issues A. Introduction ................................................................................................................ I-I 1. Location & Setting .................................................................................... 1-1 2. Resources by River Segment .................................................................. 1-4 3. Recreation Use Summary ........................................................................ 1-6 B. Purpose & Need for Action ..................................................................................... 1-7 Vision Statement ............................................................................................ 1-8 C. Citizen Task Force .................................................................................................... 1-9 D. Plan Revision Alternatives Considered ............................................................ 1-13 E. Applicable Mandates & Authorities .................................................................. 1-13 F. Plan Implementation & Amendments ............................................................... 1-13 Chapter 2 Proposed Plan Revision A. Introduction ................................................................................................................ 2-1 B. Areawide Multiple Use Goals ................................................................................ 2-2 C. Areawide Recreation Goals .................................................................................... 2-4 ---, D. Segment-Specific Recreation Management Objectives ................................... 2-7 E. Areawide Implementing Actions ........................................................................ 2-14 F. Segment-Specific Actions ..................................................................................... 2-29 Segment 1 ..................................................................................................... 2-29 Segment 2 ..................................................................................................... 2-36 Segment 3 ..................................................................................................... 2-44 Segment 4 ............................................................................................... , ..... 2-49 Segment 5 ..................................................................................................... 2-55 Segment 6 ..................................................................................................... 2-59 G. Implementing Phasing ......................................................................................... 2-62 Chapter 3 Affected Environment A. Critical Elements ....................................................................................................... 8-1 Air Quality ....................................................................................................... 8-1 Cultural Resources ........................................................................................ 3-1 Environmental Justice .................................................................................. 8-2 Flood Plains, Wetlands, Riparian Zones & Alluvial Valleys .............. 3-2 Invasive, Non-Native Species ..................................................................... 3-5 Native American Religious Concerns ....................................................... 3-5 Prime & Unique Farmlands ............ :........................................................... 8-5 Soils ................................................................................................................... 8-5 Threatened & Endangered Species ................................ ,........................... 8-7 Vegetation ..................................................................................................... 3-11 Wastes, Hazardous or Solid ..................................................................... 3-18 Water Quality, Surface or Ground ......................................................... 3-14 Wilderness, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern & Wild & Scenic Rivers ............................................................................. 3-16 Wildlife, Aquatic ......................................................................................... 3-19 Wildlife, Terrestrial ................................................................................... 3-22 B. Non-Critical Elements .......................................................................................... 3-27 Economics ..................................................................................................... 3-27 Forest Management ................................................................................... 3-27 Geology & Minerals ................................................................................... 3-28 Hydrology & Water Rights ..................................................................... 3-29 Land Status, Realty Authorizations & Access ..................................... 3-30 Noise ............................................................................................................... 3-30 Paleontology ................................................................................................ 3-31 Range Management ................................................................................... 3-32 Recreation ..................................................................................................... 3-32 Transportation ........................................... ... ....................... .................. ..... 3-46 Visual Resources ................................................................................ ......... 3-5 1 Chapter 4 Supplemental Environmental Assessment Number ............................................................................................................................ 4-1 Project Name ................................................................................................................... 4-1 Planning Unit .................................................................................................................. 4-1 Legal Description ........................................................................................................... 4-1 Applicant ........................................................................................................................... 4-1 Description of Proposed Action & Alternatives ..................................................... 4-1 Plan Conformance Review ........................................................................................... 4-1 Need for Proposed Action ............................................................................................ 4-3 Affected Environment, Environmental Impacts & Mitigation Measures ..................................................................................................... 4-3 Critical Elements ........................................................................................... 4-3 Non-Critical Elements ............................................................................... 4-19 Persons/ Agencies Consulted ................................................................................... 4-30 Compliance Plan ........... .......................................... ..................................................... 4-30 Name of Preparer ......................................................................................................... 4-30 Name of Environmental Coordinator .................................................................... 4-30 FONSI - CO-RGFO-00-022 EA ............................................................................ 4-31 Chapter 5 Consultation and Coordination A. Pre-Draft Consultation ...........................................................................................