East Carson River Strategy Carson Ranger District United States Department of East Carson River Agriculture Strategy Forest Service Carson Ranger District, Humboldt-Toiyabe National July 2007 Forest, Alpine County, California and Douglas County, Nevada For Information Contact: David Loomis Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest 1536 South Carson St. Carson City, NV 897903 775 884-8132 East Carson River Strategy Carson Ranger District The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (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). 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East Carson River Strategy Carson Ranger District East Carson River Strategy Carson Ranger District Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................ 1 Objective.......................................................................................................................................................................1 Background..................................................................................................................................................................1 What We Found: .........................................................................................................................................................3 Recreation.................................................................................................................................................................3 Wildlife/Plant Habitat...............................................................................................................................................4 Weed management....................................................................................................................................................4 Fish and Amphibian Habitat .....................................................................................................................................4 Watershed Resources................................................................................................................................................5 Heritage Resources ...................................................................................................................................................5 Wild and Scenic River Management ........................................................................................................................6 Roads ........................................................................................................................................................................7 APPENDIX...................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 1: Characterization.......................................................................................................................................9 River Landscape Character.......................................................................................................................................9 Land Use Status ......................................................................................................................................................11 Chapter 2: Issues ........................................................................................................................................................3 Recreation.................................................................................................................................................................3 Wildlife/Plant habitat................................................................................................................................................3 Weed management....................................................................................................................................................3 Fish and amphibian habitat .......................................................................................................................................4 Watershed Conditions...............................................................................................................................................4 Heritage resource management.................................................................................................................................4 Wild and Scenic River Management ........................................................................................................................5 Roads ........................................................................................................................................................................5 Chapter 3: Current and Desired Conditions............................................................................................................6 Recreation.................................................................................................................................................................6 Watershed .................................................................................................................................................................9 Fisheries..................................................................................................................................................................11 Wildlife Habitat ......................................................................................................................................................14 Wild and Scenic River Management ......................................................................................................................16 Heritage Resources .................................................................................................................................................18 Roads ......................................................................................................................................................................19 Chapter 4: Recommendations ..................................................................................................................................21 Recreation...............................................................................................................................................................21 Wildlife/Plant Habitat.............................................................................................................................................21 Weed management..................................................................................................................................................22 Fish and Amphibian Habitat ...................................................................................................................................22 Watershed Resources..............................................................................................................................................22 Heritage Resources .................................................................................................................................................23 East Carson River Strategy Carson Ranger District Wild and Scenic River Management ......................................................................................................................23 Roads ......................................................................................................................................................................24 List of Preparers ........................................................................................................................................................25 References ..................................................................................................................................................................26 East Carson River Strategy Carson Ranger District Executive Summary: East Carson River Strategy Carson Ranger District, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Alpine County, California and Douglas County, Nevada East Carson River Strategy Carson Ranger District Executive Summary descends through a variety of mountain, meadow, and canyon habitats into the sagebrush and desert shrub of the Objective Great Basin in Nevada. It is recognized This strategy lays out a solid plan of as only one of two major free flowing action for enhancing the management of rivers on the eastern Sierra. The study National Forest System lands and section flows approximately 52 miles details a vision for the future of the East from the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness in Carson River country. The strategy Alpine County, California into Douglas outlines recommendations for County, Nevada. enhancing recreational experiences, The river passes through the Carson- ecosystem functions, transportation,