United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Environmental Assessment DOI-BLM-UT-Y020-06-05 December, 2016 Proposed Right-of-Way by San Juan County for an ATV Trail in the Indian Creek Area Location: T. 30 S., R. 21 E., Sections 7, 8, 17, 21 and 28 Applicant/Address: San Juan County Monticello, Utah U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management Monticello Field Office 435 North Main PO Box 7 Monticello, Utah 84532 (435) 587-1500 (435) 587-1518 Proposed Right-of-Way by San Juan County for an ATV Trail in the Indian Creek Area DOI-BLM-UT-Y020-06-05 Table of Contents 1.0 PURPOSE AND NEED ............................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Background ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Need for the Proposed Action ............................................................................................... 3 1.4 Purpose of the Proposed Action ............................................................................................ 4 1.5 Conformance with BLM Land Use Plan .............................................................................. 4 1.6 Relationship to Statutes, Regulations, or Other Plans .......................................................... 5 1.7 Identification of Issues .......................................................................................................... 7 1.7.1 Cultural Resources ......................................................................................................... 8 1.7.2 Floodplains/Riparian Areas ........................................................................................... 8 1.7.3 Lands and Realty............................................................................................................ 8 1.7.4 Noise .............................................................................................................................. 9 1.7.5 Recreation ...................................................................................................................... 9 1.7.6 Visual Resources ............................................................................................................ 9 1.7.7 Wilderness Characteristics ............................................................................................. 9 1.8 Issues Considered but Eliminated from Further Analysis .................................................... 9 1.8.1 Air Quality ..................................................................................................................... 9 1.8.2 Soils.............................................................................................................................. 10 1.9 Summary ............................................................................................................................ 10 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING PROPOSED ACTION .................... 11 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 11 2.2 Actions Common to All Alternatives ................................................................................. 11 2.2.1 Cultural Resources ....................................................................................................... 11 2.2.2 Noxious Weeds ............................................................................................................ 11 2.2.3 Recreation .................................................................................................................... 11 2.2.4 Visual Resources .......................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Alternative A –“Preferred Alternative” from 2012 EA ...................................................... 12 2.3.1 Design Features ............................................................................................................ 14 Proposed Right-of-Way by San Juan County for an ATV Trail i in the Indian Creek Area, UT-090-06-05 2.4 Alternative B – Proposed Action ........................................................................................ 16 2.4.1 Design Features ............................................................................................................ 18 2.5 Alternative C – Mitigation Segment ................................................................................... 19 2.5.1 Design Features ............................................................................................................ 21 2.5.2 Floodplain/Riparian Area Mitigation ........................................................................... 21 2.6 Alternative D – No Action .................................................................................................. 22 2.7 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Further Analysis......................................... 22 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................... 25 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 25 3.2 General Setting.................................................................................................................... 25 3.3 Resources/Issues Brought Forward for Analysis ................................................................ 26 3.3.1 Cultural Resources ....................................................................................................... 26 3.3.2 Floodplains/Riparian Areas ......................................................................................... 29 3.3.3 Lands and Realty.......................................................................................................... 32 3.3.4. Noise ........................................................................................................................... 34 3.3.5 Recreation .................................................................................................................... 37 3.3.6 Visual Resources .......................................................................................................... 41 3.3.7 Wilderness Characteristics ........................................................................................... 42 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ......................................................................................... 44 4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 44 4.2 General Analysis Assumptions ........................................................................................ 44 4.3 Direct and Indirect Impacts ............................................................................................. 44 4.3.1 Alternative A -“Preferred Alternative” from 2012 EA ................................................ 44 4.3.2 Alternative B – Proposed Action ................................................................................. 57 4.3.3 Alternative C – Mitigation Segment ............................................................................ 60 4.3.4. Alternative D – No Action .......................................................................................... 65 4.3.5 Monitoring ................................................................................................................... 67 4.4 Cumulative Impacts Analysis .......................................................................................... 68 4.4.1 Cultural Resources ....................................................................................................... 69 4.4.2 Floodplains/Riparian Areas ......................................................................................... 69 4.4.3 Lands and Realty.......................................................................................................... 71 4.4.4 Noise ............................................................................................................................ 74 4.4.5 Recreation .................................................................................................................... 75 4.4.5 Visual Resources .......................................................................................................... 77 Proposed Right-of-Way by San Juan County for an ATV Trail ii in the Indian Creek Area, UT-090-06-05 4.4.6 Wilderness Character ................................................................................................... 78 5.0 CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION ........................................................................ 80 5.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 80 5.2 Persons, Groups, and Agencies Consulted ......................................................................... 80 5.3 Summary of Public Participation ........................................................................................ 81 5.3.1 Response to Public Comments..................................................................................... 82 5.4 List