United States Environmental Department of Agriculture Assessment for Comment Baca Mountain Tract and Camino Forest Service Chamisa Project Rio Grande National Forest United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve June 2009 For More Information Contact: Bob Dalrymple, Planner San Luis Valley Public Lands Center 1803 West Highway 160 Monte Vista, CO 81144 (719) 852-5941 Cover Photo: Looking east from the Great Sand Dunes National Park Preserve to the Baca Mountain Tract against the Baca Grande subdivision The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Interior prohibit discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795- 3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Environmental Assessment for Comment Environmental Assessment for Comment Baca Mountain Tract and Camino Chamisa Project April 2009 Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Official: Dan S. Dallas, Forest Supervisor Rio Grande National Forest 1803 West Highway 160 Monte Vista, CO 81144 Cooperating Agency: USDI National Park Service Responsible Official: Mike Snyder, Intermountain Regional Director National Park Service 12795 Alameda Parkway Denver, CO 80225 Other Cooperating Agencies: Saguache County, USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, Colorado Division of Wildlife For Further Information: Bob Dalrymple, Planner San Luis Valley Public Lands Center 1803 West Highway 160 Monte Vista, CO 81144 (719) 852-5941 This document is available online at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/riogrande/projects Abstract This environmental assessment is a cooperative analysis by the Rio Grande National Forest (RGNF) and the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve (GRSA) in evaluating the potential effects of amending the Forest Plan to include the recently acquired Baca Mountain Tract and implementing the GRSA General Management Plan by providing motorized public access across the park to the national forest. It also includes the effects of closely associated projects including road management, parking area, permits, and closures. Four alternatives including the no-action alternative are presented. i Baca Mountain Tract and Camino Chamisa Project Table of Contents Chapter 1 – Purpose of and Need for Action................................................................................................ 1 Introduction.............................................................................................................................................. 1 Overview .............................................................................................................................................. 1 Background .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Proposed Action....................................................................................................................................... 2 Proposed Action....................................................................................................................................... 3 Purpose of and Need for Action............................................................................................................... 3 Decision Framework ................................................................................................................................4 Area and Scope ........................................................................................................................................ 4 Relationship to Other Acts, Regulations and Plans.................................................................................. 5 Public Involvement .................................................................................................................................. 7 Issues...................................................................................................................................................... 10 Key Issues Associated with the Proposed Action .............................................................................. 10 Concerns Outside the Scope of This Analysis.................................................................................... 14 Chapter 2 – Alternatives............................................................................................................................. 17 Alternative 1 (No Action) ...................................................................................................................... 17 Alternative 2 (Proposed Action) ............................................................................................................ 18 Alternative 3........................................................................................................................................... 21 Alternative 4........................................................................................................................................... 23 Project Design Criteria Common to All Action Alternatives................................................................. 25 Alternatives Considered but Dropped from Detailed Consideration ..................................................... 29 Comparison of Alternatives Summary................................................................................................... 31 Monitoring ............................................................................................................................................. 46 Future Planning Needs ........................................................................................................................... 47 Chapter 3 – Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ..................................................... 49 Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 49 Scope of the Analysis............................................................................................................................. 49 Past Actions Affecting the Existing Condition ...................................................................................... 51 Key Issues .............................................................................................................................................. 53 Forest Plan Amendment......................................................................................................................... 66 Management Area Prescriptions......................................................................................................... 66 Infrastructure ...................................................................................................................................... 69 Wilderness Evaluation........................................................................................................................ 69 Effects to Forest Resources ................................................................................................................ 69 Effects on Resources and Elements ....................................................................................................... 69 Air....................................................................................................................................................... 69 Aquatic Resources.............................................................................................................................. 72 Fisheries Resources ............................................................................................................................ 80 Global Climate Change ...................................................................................................................... 84 Heritage Resources............................................................................................................................. 84 Infrastructure – Roads and Parking Areas.......................................................................................... 93 Lands ................................................................................................................................................ 100 Minerals............................................................................................................................................ 101 Natural Soundscape.......................................................................................................................... 103 Night Sky.......................................................................................................................................... 107 Recreation/Visitor Use