U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROJECT NAME: Alpine Triangle Recreation Area Management Plan Environmental Assessment PLANNING UNIT: Alpine Triangle Special Recreation Management Area LEGAL DESCRIPTION: 40N 7W Sections 2-10, 17, 18. 43N 7W Sections 1, 2, 12-14, 24,25, 41N 6W Sections 3-10, 15-21, 29-31. 35, 36. 41N 7W Sections 1-36. 44N 3W Sections 6, 7, 18, 19, 30, 31. 41N 8W Sections 1, 12, 13, 24, 25, 36. 44N 4W Sections 1,2, 10-15, 22-36. 42N 3W Section 6. 44N 5W Sections 25-29, 32-36. 42N 4W Sections 1-8, 17-19. 44N 6W Sections 2, 26, 32- 36. 42N 5W Sections 1-23, 27-30. 44N 7W Sections 35, 36. 42N 6W Sections 1-34. 45N 3W Sections 6, 7, 19, 30, 31. 42N 7W Sections 1-3, 9-36. 45N 4W Sections 1, 2, 11-14, 23-26, 43N 3W Sections 6-7, 18-19, 30-31. 35, 36. 43N 4W Sections 1- 36. 46N 4W Sections 13, 24, 25, 35, 36. 43N 5W Sections 1- 36. 47N 3W Sections 4, 5, 8, 9, 16, 17, 43N 6W Sections 1-36. 19– 21, 28, 29, 31-33. 48N 3W Sections 29- 32. PREPARATION DATE: August 12, 2010 Prepared for: U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Columbine Field Office 367 Pearl Street P.O.Box 439 Bayfield, CO 81122 & Gunnison Field Office 216 North Colorado Gunnison, CO 81230 This page left intentionally blank. Final Environmental Assessment Alpine Triangle Recreation Area Management Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1.0 INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE AND NEED ........................................................................1 1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................1 1.2 Purpose and Need ..........................................................................................................3 1.3 Overall Vision ................................................................................................................3 1.4 Description of the Project Area ....................................................................................4 1.5 Planning Process and Public Involvement ..................................................................4 1.6 Conformance with the Land Use Plan .........................................................................6 1.7 Relationship to Statutes, Regulations, or other Plans ................................................7 1.7.1 Federal Regulations .........................................................................................7 1.7.2 State Laws ........................................................................................................9 1.7.3 BLM Policies and Programs ............................................................................9 1.8 Issues, Concerns and Opportunities ............................................................................9 1.9 Decision to be Made ....................................................................................................12 1.10 Summary ......................................................................................................................13 2.0 ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................................................14 2.1 Management Common to All Alternatives (MCA) ..................................................14 2.1.1 Law, Regulation, Policy or Administrative Action .......................................14 2.1.2 Travel Management and Access ....................................................................16 2.1.3 Recreation Management Spring, Summer, and Fall Use ...............................20 2.1.4 Recreation Management Winter Use .............................................................22 2.1.5 Recreation Management Resource Protection ...............................................23 2.1.6 Recreation Management Facilities, Signs, Interpretation and Education ......25 2.1.7 Recreation Administration .............................................................................27 2.1.8 Recreation Information, Education and Marketing .......................................27 2.1.9 Recreation Monitoring ...................................................................................29 2.1.10 Recreation Collaboration ...............................................................................30 2.2 Alternative A, Current Management/No Action ......................................................30 2.2.1 Law, Regulation and Policy and Administrative Action ...............................30 2.2.2 Travel Management and Access ....................................................................31 2.2.3 Recreation Management Spring, Summer and Fall Use ................................31 2.2.4 Recreation Management Winter Use .............................................................32 2.2.5 Recreation Management Resource Protection ...............................................32 2.3 Alternative B - Proposed Action ................................................................................32 2.3.1 Recreation Management Zone 1 – Alpine Backcountry ................................35 2.3.2 Recreation Management Zone 2 – Heritage Roads .......................................37 2.3.3 Recreation Management Zone 3 – Animas & Lake Fork Rivers ...................39 2.3.4 Law, Regulation, and Policy ..........................................................................41 2.3.5 Travel Management and Access ....................................................................41 2.3.6 Recreation Management Spring, Summer and Fall Use ................................47 2.3.7 Recreation Management Winter Use .............................................................49 2.3.8 Recreation Management Resource Protection ...............................................50 2.3.9 Recreation Management Facilities, Signs, Interpretation and Education ......50 2.3.10 Recreation Administration .............................................................................51 2.3.11 Recreation Information, Education and Marketing .......................................51 i Final Environmental Assessment Alpine Triangle Recreation Area Management Plan 2.3.12 Recreation Monitoring ...................................................................................53 2.3.13 Recreation Collaboration ...............................................................................53 2.4 Alternatives Considered but Not Analyzed in Detail ...............................................54 2.5 Summary of Impacts ...................................................................................................56 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT .......................................................60 3.1 General Setting ............................................................................................................60 3.2 Resources Eliminated from Detailed Analysis ..........................................................60 3.2.1 Air Quality .....................................................................................................60 3.2.2 Climate ...........................................................................................................62 3.2.3 Environmental Justice ....................................................................................62 3.2.4 Hazardous Wastes ..........................................................................................64 3.2.5 Lands and Realty............................................................................................64 3.2.6 Livestock Grazing ..........................................................................................65 3.2.7 Mineral Resources .........................................................................................65 3.2.8 Noise ..............................................................................................................66 3.2.9 Public Health and Safety ................................................................................67 3.2.10 Soils................................................................................................................68 3.2.11 Water Quality (Surface and Ground) .............................................................69 3.2.12 Wild and Scenic Rivers ..................................................................................71 3.3 Resources Brought Forward for Detailed Analysis ..................................................72 3.3.1 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern......................................................72 3.3.2 Cultural Resources .........................................................................................73 3.3.3 Recreation ......................................................................................................76 3.3.4 Socioeconomics .............................................................................................87 3.3.5 Transportation and Access .............................................................................93 3.3.6 Vegetation ......................................................................................................96 3.3.7 Visual Resources ..........................................................................................101 3.3.8 Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas .....................................................104 3.3.9 Wildlife, Special-Status Species, and Threatened and Endangered Species105 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES AND PROPOSED MITIGATION MEASURES ........................................................................................................................113