United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Eastern Region May, 2005 Environmental Assessment for the Warren to Woodstock Snowmobile Trail Project For addition information, contact Susan Mathison Ammonoosuc-Pemigewasset Ranger District White Mountain National Forest 1171 Route 175 Holderness, NH 03265 Phone: 603-536-1315 (voice); 603-528-8722 (TTY) Fax: 603-536-5147 E-mail: [email protected]. White Mountain National Forest White Mountain National Forest Environmental Assessment Table of Contents Chapter 1: Purpose and Need................................................. 4 What is the Forest Service Proposing? .............................................................................................. 4 Where is the Warren to Woodstock Snowmobile Trail Project? ............................................. 4 Background .......................................................................................................................... 4 Purpose & Need ............................................................................................................................ 10 Why is the Forest Service proposing activities in the Warren to Woodstock Snowmobile Trail Project Area? ..................................................................................................................... 10 What is the site-specific need identified for the Warren to Woodstock Snowmobile Trail Project Area? ................................................................................................................................. 12 What decisions will be made for the Project Area? .............................................................. 13 Public involvement .......................................................................................................................... 13 How is the public involved in this decision? .......................................................................... 13 Issues ............................................................................................................................................. 14 What issues were identified during Scoping and/or during the 30 Day Comment Period? ...... 14 Chapter 2: Alternatives ......................................................... 16 Alternatives .................................................................................................................................... 16 What alternatives are being considered for the Warren to Woodstock Snowmobile Trail Project? ............................................................................................................................. 16 Why were some alternatives eliminated from detailed consideration? .................................... 16 Which alternatives are being considered in detail? ................................................................ 17 How do the alternatives compare? ...................................................................................... 21 How do the alternatives compare with regard to the issues? ................................................. 22 Comparison of alternatives by anticipated resource effects ................................................... 25 Chapter 3: Affected Environment, Environmental Conse- quences, and Cumulative Effects ....................................... 26 Mitigation Measures ....................................................................................................................... 26 Affected Environment, Environmental Consequences, Cumulative Effects, and Scoping Comment Summary ........................................................................................................................................ 26 Forest Plan References to Cumulative Effects ...................................................................... 26 Physical Environment ...................................................................................................................... 27 Transportation Facilities ...................................................................................................... 27 Soil Resource ..................................................................................................................... 35 Water Resources ................................................................................................................ 38 Air Resource ...................................................................................................................... 49 Biological Environment .................................................................................................................... 55 Fish and Other Aquatic Species .......................................................................................... 55 Vegetation .......................................................................................................................... 56 Wildlife Resources .............................................................................................................. 65 Socio-economic Environment .......................................................................................................... 72 2 Ammonoosuc/Pemigewasset Ranger District Warren to Woodstock Snowmobile Trail Project Heritage Resources ............................................................................................................. 72 Sound ................................................................................................................................76 Recreation .......................................................................................................................... 81 Visual Quality ..................................................................................................................... 88 Community, Environmental Justice, & Economics ................................................................ 90 Endnotes .................................................................................. 96 Public Comments, Sample Statements, and Responses .................................................................... 96 Alternatives .................................................................................................................................... 96 Effects .......................................................................................................................................... 107 Roadless Rule ............................................................................................................................... 112 MA 6.2 and 6.3 ............................................................................................................................ 115 National Environmental Policy Act ................................................................................................. 118 Trail Construction ......................................................................................................................... 120 Trail Adjustments .......................................................................................................................... 123 Snowmobile Clubs ........................................................................................................................ 123 Unauthorized Motorized Use ........................................................................................................ 125 Safety ........................................................................................................................................... 128 Interpretive Signs .......................................................................................................................... 131 Responders to the 30 Day Document ................................................................................ 133 Scoping Comment Summary ......................................................................................................... 136 Scoping Commentors ....................................................................................................... 138 Additional Transportation Reference Information ........................................................................... 140 Summary of Terms ........................................................................................................................ 143 References Cited: ......................................................................................................................... 146 Preparers and Contacts: ................................................................................................................ 151 Where is this Project in the NEPA Process? .................................................................................. 162 3 White Mountain National Forest Environmental Assessment Chapter 1: Purpose and Need What is the Forest Service Proposing? The Ammonoosuc/Pemigewasset Ranger District is proposing to construct a snowmobile trail that would connect the existing Three Ponds and the Glover Brook Snowmobile Trails (Map 1) . This trail was described as the Proposed Action in the Warren to Woodstock Snowmobile Trail Scoping Report, January 23, 2004 and the Information and Notice for 30 Day Comment, December 1, 2004. Table 1 displays the actions proposed by the Forest Service that meet the needs for change identified for the Warren to Woodstock Snowmobile Trail Project Area. See the Endnotes section for a list of applicable mitigation measures related to this Proposed Action. Where