FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR TRAIL CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE BARON RIDGE TRAIL UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA SUPPORTED BY THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY TRAILS COUNCIL APRIL 2015 USDA Forest Service Baron Ridge Trail TABLE OF CONTENTS Page SECTION 1.0 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION ............................ 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 1 1.2 PURPOSE AND NEED ................................................................................................. 3 1.3 DECISION FRAMEWORK ........................................................................................... 4 1.4 PUBLIC AND AGENCY INVOLVEMENT ...................................................................... 4 SECTION 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES .. 5 2.1 PROPOSED ACTION................................................................................................... 5 2.2 PROPOSED ACTION ROUTE ....................................................................................... 5 2.2.1 Project Components .................................................................................... 8 2.2.2 Trail Access and Use ................................................................................ 10 2.3 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES........................................................................................ 12 2.4 MITIGATIONS AND BMPS APPLICABLE TO ALL ACTION ALTERNATIVES ............... 13 SECTION 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND CONSEQUENCES .......................... 17 3.1 ISSUES ELIMINATED FROM FURTHER ANALYSIS .................................................... 17 3.1.1 Air Quality ................................................................................................ 17 3.1.2 Noise ......................................................................................................... 18 3.1.3 Environmental Justice ............................................................................... 18 3.1.4 Socioeconomics ........................................................................................ 18 3.1.5 Hazardous Materials and Wastes .............................................................. 19 3.2 VISUAL RESOURCES ............................................................................................... 19 3.2.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................... 19 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action ............................. 20 3.2.3 Environmental Consequences of the Project Alternative ......................... 21 3.2.4 Environmental Consequences of the No-Action Alternative.................... 21 3.3 LAND USE .............................................................................................................. 22 3.3.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................... 22 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action ............................. 25 3.3.3 Environmental Consequences of the Project Alternative ......................... 26 3.3.4 Environmental Consequences of the No-Action Alternative.................... 27 3.4 VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE ................................................................................. 28 3.4.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................... 28 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action ............................. 34 3.4.3 Proposed Biological Best Management Practices..................................... 38 3.4.4 Environmental Consequences of the Project Alternative ......................... 40 3.4.5 Environmental Consequences of the No-Action Alternative.................... 40 3.5 GEOLOGIC CONDITIONS ......................................................................................... 40 3.5.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................... 40 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action ............................. 41 3.5.3 Proposed Erosion and Sedimentation Best Management Practices .......... 43 EA for the Baron Ridge Trail Page i April 2015 USDA Forest Service Baron Ridge Trail 3.5.4 Environmental Consequences of the Project Alternative ......................... 44 3.5.5 Environmental Consequences of the No-Action Alternative.................... 44 3.6 WATER RESOURCES ............................................................................................... 44 3.6.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................... 44 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action ............................. 46 3.6.3 Environmental Consequences of the Project Alternative ......................... 47 3.6.4 Environmental Consequences of the No-Action Alternative.................... 47 3.7 CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES.............................................................. 47 3.7.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................... 47 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action ............................. 50 3.7.3 Environmental Consequences of the Project Alternative ......................... 50 3.7.4 Environmental Consequences of the No-Action Alternative.................... 51 3.8 FIRE HAZARDS ....................................................................................................... 51 3.8.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................... 51 3.8.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action ............................. 51 3.8.3 Environmental Consequences of the Project Alternative ......................... 52 3.8.4 Environmental Consequences of the No-Action Alternative.................... 52 3.9 TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC SERVICES ............................................................. 52 3.9.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................... 52 3.9.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action ............................. 54 3.9.3 Environmental Consequences of the Project Alternative ......................... 54 3.9.4 Environmental Consequences of the No-Action Alternative.................... 55 3.10 RECREATION .......................................................................................................... 55 3.10.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................... 55 3.10.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action ............................. 59 3.10.3 Environmental Consequences of the Project Alternative ......................... 60 3.10.4 Environmental Consequences of the No-Action Alternative.................... 60 SECTION 4.0 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS .............................................................................. 61 4.1 KEY FACTORS IN EVALUATING CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ......................................... 61 4.2 PLANNED PROJECTS IN THE VICINITY .................................................................... 61 4.3 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS .......................................................................................... 63 SECTION 5.0 SOURCES ........................................................................................................... 64 SECTION 6.0 REPORT PREPARERS .................................................................................... 68 EA for the Baron Ridge Trail Page ii April 2015 USDA Forest Service Baron Ridge Trail LIST OF TABLES Table 2-1. Proposed Implementation of Forest Service Trail Design Standards ............................ 8 LPNF Santa Barbara Front – Land Management Strategy ........................................................... 22 Table 3-1. Land Ownership and Use Under the Proposed Action ................................................ 25 Table 3-2. Land Ownership and Use Under the Project Alternative ............................................ 26 Table 3-3. Erosion and Sedimentation Trail Design Features ...................................................... 43 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1-1. Project Location Map and Regional Setting ................................................................ 2 Figure 2-1. Proposed Baron Ridge Trail Project Area .................................................................... 6 Figure 2-2. Connecting Trails ....................................................................................................... 11 Figure 3-1. Existing Land Use in the Vicinity of the Proposed Baron Ridge Trail ...................... 23 Figure 3-2. Recreational Uses in the Vicinity of the Proposed Baron Ridge Trail ...................... 57 APPENDICES Appendix A Interested Federal, State, Local Agencies, and Public Appendix B Biological Resources Technical Report for Trail Construction and Maintenance of the Baron Ridge Trail EA for the Baron Ridge Trail Page iii April 2015 USDA Forest Service Baron Ridge Trail LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS AIRFA American Indian Religious NAGPRA Native American Graves Freedom Act Protection and Repatriation Act ARPA Archaeological Resources NEPA National Environmental Policy Protection Act Act BC Back Country NHPA National Historic Preservation Act BMP Best Management Practice NPS National Park Service