Draft Environmental Assessment Echo Recreation Development PRO-EA-18-008 Upper Colorado Region Provo Area Office Provo, Utah U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Provo Area Office Provo, Utah May 2018 Mission Statements The Department of the Interior protects and manages the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information about those resources; and honors its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated island communities. The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. Draft Environmental Assessment Echo Recreation Development PRO-EA-18-008 Upper Colorado Region Provo Area Office Provo, Utah prepared by Interdisciplinary Team Leader Jared Baxter 302 East 1860 South Provo, Utah 84606 [email protected] U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Provo Area Office Provo, Utah May 2018 Contents Page Chapter 1 Purpose of and Need for Proposed Action ...................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Background ................................................................................................ 1 1.3 Purpose of and Need for Proposed Action ................................................. 2 1.4 Public Scoping and Involvement ............................................................... 3 1.5 Permits and Authorizations ........................................................................ 3 1.6 Related Projects and Documents ............................................................... 4 1.6.1 Eleven Park Agreement ..................................................................... 4 1.6.2 Twelve Park Agreement .................................................................... 4 1.6.3 Echo Dam Safety of Dams Modification EA .................................... 4 1.7 Scope of Analysis ...................................................................................... 4 Chapter 2 Alternatives ........................................................................................ 6 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 6 2.2 No Action ................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Proposed Action ......................................................................................... 6 2.4 Alternatives Considered and Eliminated from Further Study.................... 8 2.4.1 Long-Term Overnight Camping ........................................................ 8 2.4.2 Developing the Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail.............................. 8 Chapter 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ............ 9 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 9 3.2 Resources Considered and Eliminated from Further Analysis .................. 9 3.3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ...................... 10 3.3.1 Visual Resources .............................................................................. 11 3.3.1.1 No Action ................................................................................ 11 3.3.1.2 Proposed Action ...................................................................... 12 3.3.2 Cultural Resources ........................................................................... 12 3.3.2.1 No Action ................................................................................ 13 3.3.2.2 Proposed Action ...................................................................... 14 3.3.3 Paleontological Resources ............................................................... 14 3.3.3.1 No Action ................................................................................ 14 3.3.3.2 Proposed Action ...................................................................... 14 3.3.4 Water Quality ................................................................................... 14 3.3.4.1 No Action ................................................................................ 15 3.3.4.2 Proposed Action ...................................................................... 15 3.3.5 Health, Safety, Air Quality, and Noise ............................................ 15 3.3.5.1 No Action ................................................................................ 16 3.3.5.2 Proposed Action ...................................................................... 16 3.3.6 Wetlands, Riparian, Noxious Weeds, and Existing Vegetation ....... 16 3.3.6.1 No Action ................................................................................ 18 3.3.6.2 Proposed Action ...................................................................... 18 3.3.7 Fish and Wildlife Resources ............................................................ 18 3.3.7.1 Fish .......................................................................................... 18 3.3.7.1.1 No Action ....................................................................... 19 3.3.7.1.2 Proposed Action ............................................................. 19 3.3.7.2 Big Game ................................................................................ 20 3.3.7.2.1 No Action ....................................................................... 20 3.3.7.2.2 Proposed Action ............................................................. 20 3.3.7.3 Birds ........................................................................................ 20 3.3.7.3.1 No Action ....................................................................... 20 3.3.7.3.2 Proposed Action ............................................................. 20 3.3.8 Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species .............................. 21 3.3.8.1 No Action ................................................................................ 23 3.3.8.2 Proposed Action ...................................................................... 23 3.3.9 Recreation ........................................................................................ 24 3.3.9.1 No Action ................................................................................ 25 3.3.9.2 Proposed Action ...................................................................... 25 3.3.10 Socioeconomics ............................................................................. 27 3.3.10.1 No Action .............................................................................. 27 3.3.10.2 Proposed Action .................................................................... 27 3.3.11 Access and Transportation ............................................................. 28 3.3.11.1 No Action .............................................................................. 29 3.3.11.2 Proposed Action .................................................................... 29 3.3.12 Water Rights .................................................................................. 30 3.3.12.1 No Action .............................................................................. 30 3.3.12.2 Proposed Action .................................................................... 30 3.4 Indian Trust Assets .................................................................................. 31 3.5 Environmental Justice .............................................................................. 31 3.6 Cumulative Effects................................................................................... 31 3.7 Summary of Environmental Effects ......................................................... 32 Chapter 4 Environmental Commitments ........................................................ 34 4.1 Environmental Commitments .................................................................. 34 Chapter 5 Consultation and Coordination ...................................................... 38 5.1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 38 5.2 Native American Consultation ................................................................. 38 5.3 Utah Geological Survey ........................................................................... 38 5.4 Utah State Historic Preservation Office ................................................... 39 5.5 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ................................................................ 39 5.6 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ................................................................ 39 Chapter 6 Preparers .......................................................................................... 40 Chapter 7 Acronyms and Abbreviations ......................................................... 41 Chapter 8 References ......................................................................................... 43 Chapter 9 Appendices........................................................................................ 45 Appendix A – SHPO Letter Appendix B – UGS Letter Appendix C – Figures Figure C-1 – Project Area Figure C-2 – Beach Day Use, Camping, and Wakeless Area Figure C-3 – Red Rock Campground Figure C-4 – Dry Hollow Campground Figure C-5 – Ranger Overlook Figure C-6 – Chalk Creek Campground Chapter