U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management April 2021 Trail Development in the Lake Mountains, North Oquirrh Management Area and Rose and Yellow Fork Canyons DOI-BLM-UT-W010-2020-0007-EA Environmental Assessment Cost Estimate $ 9,960.00 Salt Lake Field Office 2370 South Decker Lake Boulevard West Valley City, Utah 84119 Phone: (801) 977-4300 Fax: (801) 977i -4397 Table of Contents Chapter 1. Purpose & Need ............................................................................................................ 4 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................................. 6 1.2.1 Decision to be Made ...................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Conformance with BLM Land Use Plan(s) .......................................................................... 6 1.4 Relationship to Statutes, Regulations, or Other Plans .......................................................... 7 1.5 Identification of Issues ........................................................................................................ 10 1.5.1 Issues Analyzed in Detail ............................................................................................. 11 1.5.2 Issues Not Analyzed in Detail...................................................................................... 11 Chapter 2. Description of Alternatives ......................................................................................... 13 2.1 Alternative A – No Action .................................................................................................. 13 2.2 Alternative B – Proposed Action ........................................................................................ 13 2.3 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated ............................................................................. 14 Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Impacts .................................................... 16 3.1 Background ......................................................................................................................... 16 3.2 Analysis Assumptions and Methodology ........................................................................... 17 3.3 Recreation ........................................................................................................................... 18 3.3.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 18 3.3.2 Impacts ......................................................................................................................... 20 3.3.2.1 Alternative A – No Action .................................................................................... 20 3.3.2.2 Alternative B – Proposed Action .......................................................................... 20 3.4 Visual Resources ................................................................................................................. 21 3.4.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 21 3.4.2 Impacts ......................................................................................................................... 22 3.4.2.1 Alternative A – No Action .................................................................................... 22 3.4.2.2 Alternative B – Proposed Action .......................................................................... 22 3.5 Lands and Access ................................................................................................................ 23 3.5.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 23 3.5.2 Impacts ......................................................................................................................... 24 3.5.2.1 Alternative A – No Action .................................................................................... 24 3.5.2.2 Alternative B – Proposed Action .......................................................................... 24 i 3.6 Wildlife/Migratory Birds/Special Status Species ............................................................... 25 3.6.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 25 3.6.2 Impacts ......................................................................................................................... 30 3.6.2.1 Alternative A – No Action .................................................................................... 30 3.6.2.2 Alternative B – Proposed Action .......................................................................... 30 3.7 Vegetation ........................................................................................................................... 34 3.7.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 34 3.7.2 Impacts ......................................................................................................................... 36 3.7.2.1 Alternative A – No Action .................................................................................... 36 3.7.2.2 Alternative B – Proposed Action .......................................................................... 36 Chapter 4. Consultation and Coordination.................................................................................... 39 4.1 Persons, Groups, and Agencies Consulted ......................................................................... 39 4.2 Public Participation ............................................................................................................. 41 4.3 NHPA Compliance ............................................................................................................. 42 4.4 Preparers ............................................................................................................................. 43 Chapter 5. References, Acronyms/Abbreviations, & Appendices ................................................ 44 5.1 References ........................................................................................................................... 44 5.2 Acronyms/Abbreviations .................................................................................................... 48 5.3 Appendices .......................................................................................................................... 49 Appendix A. Figures (Maps) .................................................................................... 50 Appendix B. Interdisciplinary Team Checklist ........................................................ 57 Appendix C. Protective Measures............................................................................. 63 Appendix D. Comments/Responses.......................................................................... 68 List of Figures Figure 1. Analysis Area. ............................................................................................................... 51 Figure 2. VRM Class II areas. ...................................................................................................... 52 Figure 3. Crucial Mule Deer Habitat. ........................................................................................... 53 Figure 4. Big Game Migration and Stopovers. ............................................................................. 54 Figure 5. Crucial Rocky Mountain Elk Habitat. ........................................................................... 55 Figure 6. Crucial Pronghorn Habitat. ............................................................................................ 56 ii List of Tables Table 1. Statute, Regulation, Policy and Other Plans by Resource. ............................................... 7 Table 2. Issues Identified for Detailed Analysis. .......................................................................... 11 Table 3. Issues Considered and the Rationale for Elimination. .................................................... 12 Table 4. Reasonably Foreseeable Actions. ................................................................................... 16 Table 5. Linear Rights-of-Ways. .................................................................................................. 23 Table 6. Potentially Occurring Priority Bird Species (Non-Sensitive). ........................................ 26 Table 7. Potentially Occurring BLM Sensitive Species. .............................................................. 27 Table 8. Crucial Big Game Habitats Acreages. ............................................................................ 28 Table 9. NOMA - Vegetation Land Cover. .................................................................................. 34 Table 10. Lake Mountains - Vegetation Land. ............................................................................. 35 Table 11. Rose and Yellow Fork Canyons - Vegetation Land Cover. ......................................... 36 Table 12. Impacts to Vegetation under the Proposed Action. ...................................................... 37 Table