Rim Butte OHV Jeep Trails Environmental Assessment Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District United States Deschutes National Forest Department of Deschutes County, Oregon Agriculture Forest Service Township 22 South, Range 12 East, Section 33 and Range 14 East, Section September, 2013 24; Township 23 South, Range 12 East, Section 8 and Range 14 East, Section 17 Willamette Meridian For More Information Contact: Peter Sussmann 63095 Deschutes Market Road Bend, OR 97701 Phone: 541-383-5594 [email protected] Rim Butte OHV Jeep Trails EA Chapter 1 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (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 USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 2 Rim Butte OHV Jeep Trails EA Chapter 1 Chapter 1: Purpose and Need for Action ...................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Background ......................................................................................................................................... 7 1.3 Project Area Description ..................................................................................................................... 8 1.4 Existing Condition ............................................................................................................................ 10 1.5 Purpose and Need for Action ............................................................................................................ 10 1.6 Management Direction ...................................................................................................................... 11 1.7 Other Law, Regulation, and Policy ................................................................................................... 17 1.8 Proposed Action ................................................................................................................................ 18 1.9 Public Involvement and Scoping ...................................................................................................... 18 1.10 Issues ............................................................................................................................................... 19 1.11 Travel Analysis ............................................................................................................................... 24 1.12 Decision to be Made ....................................................................................................................... 24 Chapter 2 Alternatives ................................................................................................................................ 25 2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 25 2.2 Alternatives Considered in Detail ..................................................................................................... 27 2.3 Comparisons of Alternatives ............................................................................................................. 31 2.4 Protection Measures and Monitoring ................................................................................................ 31 Chapter 3 – Environmental Consequences ................................................................................................. 34 3.1 Basis for Effects Analysis ................................................................................................................. 34 3.2 Recreation ......................................................................................................................................... 56 3.3 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................................. 63 3.4 Botany ............................................................................................................................................. 106 3.5 Botany Noxious Weeds ................................................................................................................... 108 3.6 Transportation System .................................................................................................................... 110 3.7 Fisheries .......................................................................................................................................... 118 3.8 Scenic Resources ............................................................................................................................ 118 3.9 Soils ................................................................................................................................................ 121 3.10 Inventoried Roadless Ares and Potential Wilderness Areas ......................................................... 128 3.11 Heritage Resources ....................................................................................................................... 130 3.12 Other Disclosures .......................................................................................................................... 131 Chapter 4 – Consultation and Coordination .............................................................................................. 135 4.1 Recipients of the EA ....................................................................................................................... 135 4.2 Interdisciplinary Team Members .................................................................................................... 135 Appendix A - References .......................................................................................................................... 137 Wildlife ................................................................................................................................................. 137 3 Rim Butte OHV Jeep Trails EA Chapter 1 Recreation ............................................................................................................................................. 139 Scenic Resources .................................................................................................................................. 139 Noxious Weeds ..................................................................................................................................... 139 Proposed, Threatened, Endangered or Sensitive Plant Species ............................................................ 139 Soils ...................................................................................................................................................... 140 Climate Change ..................................................................................................................................... 140 Appendix B Travel Analysis ..................................................................................................................... 141 STEP 1: Setting up the Analysis ........................................................................................................... 141 STEP 2: Describing the Situation ......................................................................................................... 143 STEP 3: Identifying the Issues .............................................................................................................. 151 STEP 4: Assessing Benefits, Problems, and Risks ............................................................................... 152 STEP 5: Describing Opportunities and Setting Priorities ..................................................................... 160 Travel Analysis References .................................................................................................................. 162 Appendix C – Response to Comments ..................................................................................................... 163 4 Rim Butte OHV Jeep Trails EA Chapter 1 Figures Figure 1 Vicinity Map .................................................................................................................................. 9 Figure 2 Deschutes Land Management Allocations .................................................................................. 16 Figure 3 Trail locations for both Alternatives and nearby buttes ................................................................ 21 Figure 4 trail routes and buttes within ½ mile of the trail ........................................................................... 22 Figure 5 Examples of technical trail sections from Cline Buttes OHV Area ............................................. 23 Figure 6 Alternatives 2 and 3 along with proposed staging areas ..............................................................