Appendix J Wild and Scenic Rivers Suitability Report Wild and Scenic Rivers Suitability Study Report and Legislative Environmental Impact Statement for the Secesh River, South Fork Salmon River, Monumental Creek, Big Creek, and French Creek Payette and Boise National Forests Idaho J - 1 Appendix J Wild and Scenic Rivers Suitability Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Summary......................................................................................................................................J-4 Development of Alternatives ...................................................................................................J-4 Summary of Effects .................................................................................................................J-6 Chapter I. Purpose and Need....................................................................................................J-8 Introduction..............................................................................................................................J-8 Background Information..........................................................................................................J-8 Purpose and Need, and the Proposed Action...........................................................................J-9 Scope of the Proposed Action and Decision to be Made.......................................................J-10 Issues and Alternatives...........................................................................................................J-10 Chapter II. Description of the River Areas ...........................................................................J-13 Introduction............................................................................................................................J-13 Regional Setting.....................................................................................................................J-13 Description of the Secesh River Area....................................................................................J-16 Description of the South Fork Salmon River Area................................................................J-19 Description of the Monumental Creek Area..........................................................................J-24 Description of the Big Creek Area.........................................................................................J-27 Description of the French Creek Area ...................................................................................J-29 Chapter III. Findings of Eligibility and Classification.........................................................J-32 Introduction............................................................................................................................J-32 Determination of Outstandingly Remarkable Values ............................................................J-32 Findings of Eligibility Studies ...............................................................................................J-33 Definitions of Wild, Scenic, and Recreational Rivers ...........................................................J-35 Chapter IV. Issues and Alternatives......................................................................................J-40 Introduction............................................................................................................................J-40 Issues......................................................................................................................................J-40 Costs Associated with Wild and Scenic River Recommendation.........................................J-43 Alternatives Studied in Detail................................................................................................J-45 Alternatives Considered but Not Studied in Detail................................................................J-47 Comparison of Alternatives Studied in Detail .......................................................................J-48 Chapter V. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences..............................J-53 Introduction............................................................................................................................J-53 Effects Assessment ................................................................................................................J-53 Required Disclosures .............................................................................................................J-68 Chapter VI. Persons Contacted..............................................................................................J-71 Chapter VII. List of Preparers ...............................................................................................J-72 J - 2 Appendix J Wild and Scenic Rivers Suitability Report References..................................................................................................................................J-73 Region of Comparison Maps....................................................................................................J-75 List of Tables Table J-1. Recommended Segments and their Classifications - Alternative 2 ............................J-5 Table J-2. Recommended Segments and their Classifications - Alternative 3 ............................J-6 Table J-3. Recommended Segments and their Classifications - Alternative 2 ..........................J-11 Table J-4. Recommended Segments and their Classifications - Alternative 3 ..........................J-12 Table J-5. Secesh River ORVs and ORV Descriptions .............................................................J-33 Table J-6. South Fork Salmon River ORVs and ORV Descriptions .........................................J-33 Table J-7. Monumental Creek ORVs and ORV Descriptions ...................................................J-34 Table J-8. Big Creek ORVs and ORV Descriptions ..................................................................J-35 Table J-9. French Creek ORVs and ORV Descriptions ............................................................J-35 Table J-10. Wild and Scenic River Act Criteria for River Classification..................................J-36 Table J-11. Secesh River Segments, Criteria Descriptions, and Classifications .......................J-37 Table J-12. South Fork Salmon River Segments, Criteria Descriptions, and Classifications ...J-38 Table J-13. Monumental Creek River Segments, Criteria Descriptions, and Classifications ...J-38 Table J-14. Big Creek River Segments, Criteria Descriptions, and Classifications ..................J-39 Table J-15. French Creek River Segments, Criteria Descriptions, and Classifications.............J-39 Table J-16. Recommended Segments and their Classifications - Alternative 2 ........................I-45 Table J-17. Recommended Segments and their Classifications - Alternative 3 ........................I-46 Table J-18. Summary of Effects of Alternatives for the Secesh River......................................J-48 Table J-19. Summary of Effects of Alternatives for the South Fork Salmon River..................J-49 Table J-20. Summary of Effects of Alternatives for Monumental Creek..................................J-50 Table J-21. Summary of Effects of Alternatives for Big Creek ................................................J-51 Table J-22. Summary of Effects of Alternatives for French Creek ...........................................J-52 List of Figures Figure J-1. Study Rivers for Wild and Scenic Suitability..........................................................J-15 Figure J-2. Secesh River - Payette National Forest ...................................................................J-17 Figure. J-3 South Fork Salmon River Segment 1 - Boise and Payette National Forests...........J-19 Figure J-4. South Fork Salmon River Segment 2 - Payette National Forests............................J-21 Figure J-5. Big Creek/Monumental Creek - Payette National Forest........................................J-26 Figure J-6. French Creek - Payette National Forest...................................................................J-30 J - 3 Appendix J Wild and Scenic Rivers Suitability Report SUMMARY This Legislative Environmental Impact Statement Study Report (hereafter referred to as the Study Report) was prepared to address the suitability of the Secesh River, South Fork Salmon River (SFSR), Monumental Creek, Big Creek, and French Creek, on the Boise and Payette National Forests in South Central Idaho, for potential designation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (Public Law 90-542, 1968). Segments of these rivers (see Tables J-1 and J-2, and Figure J-1, below) are recognized as outstanding examples of free-flowing streams, and have been determined to be eligible for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (USDA Forest Service 1988, 1990). Once determined eligible, these river segments and their corridors are tentatively classified for suitability study as Wild, Scenic, or Recreational based on the degree of access and the amount of development along the river corridor. A Wild river classification is a river or river segment that is generally inaccessible except by trail, with watersheds or shorelines that are essentially primitive. A Scenic river is one that may be accessible in places by roads, but the shorelines or watersheds are largely undeveloped. A Recreational river is readily accessible, and may have some development along the shoreline. This Study Report