Sunriver to Lava Lands Paved Path Project Environmental Assessment United States Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District Department of Deschutes National Forest Agriculture Deschutes County, Oregon Forest Service March 2013 Township 19 South, Range 11 East, Sections 16, 17, 20-26 Willamette Meridian For More Information Contact: Scott McBride 63095 Deschutes Market Road Bend, OR 97701 Phone: 541-383-4712 Sunriver to Lava Lands Paved Path EA 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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Sunriver to Lava Lands Paved Path EA COMMONLY USED ACRONYMS ABA Architectural Barriers Act AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials BA Biological Assessment BBC Birds of Conservation Concern BE Biological Evaluation BMP Best Management Practices BO Biological Opinion CEQ Council of Environmental Quality CFR Code of Federal Regulations DBH Diameter at Breast Height DEQ Department of Environmental Quality EA Environmental Assessment EIS Environmental Impact Statement EPA Environmental Protection Agency ESA Endangered Species Act of 1973 FHWA Federal Highways Administration FS Forest Service FSH Forest Service Handbook FSM Forest Service Manual FSR Forest Service Road FSTAG Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines GIS Geographical Information System IDT Interdisciplinary Team LLVC Lava Lands Visitor Center LRMP Deschutes National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan also referred to as Forest Plan MIS Management Indicator Species NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NFS National Forest System NFMA National Forest Management Act NNVU Newberry National Volcanic Monument NRF Nesting, Roosting, and Foraging Habitat (Spotted Owl) ODOT Oregon Department of Transportation ODFW Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife ORV Outstanding Remarkable Value PAOT Persons at One Time PDC Project Design Criteria RHCA Riparian Habitat Conservation Area ROS Recreation Opportunity Spectrum S&Gs Standards and Guidelines TES Threatened, Endangered and, Sensitive Species Sunriver to Lava Lands Paved Path EA TABLE OF CONTENTS Commonly Used Acronyms .......................................................................................................................... 3 Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 1: Purpose and Need for Action ...................................................................................................... 1 Changes Between the 30-Day Comment Period EA and the Final EA .................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Background ................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Project Area Description ............................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Purpose and Need ............................................................................................................................... 4 1.5 Proposed Action .................................................................................................................................. 4 1.6 Management Direction ........................................................................................................................ 5 1.7 Decision to be Made ........................................................................................................................... 8 1.8 Issues ................................................................................................................................................... 8 1.8.1 Key Issues .................................................................................................................................... 8 1.8.2 Analysis Issues ........................................................................................................................... 15 Chapter 2 – Alternatives, Including the Proposed Action........................................................................... 16 Changes Between the 30-Day Comment Period EA and This EA ......................................................... 16 2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 16 2.2 Alternative Development Process ..................................................................................................... 16 2.3 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study .......................................................... 16 2.3.1 Alternative A – Do not pave the path......................................................................................... 16 2.3.2 Alternative B – Do not cut trees over 16 inches diameter at breast height (dbh) or any that display old growth characteristics ....................................................................................................... 17 2.3.4 Alternative C – Implement a Sunriver use fee by non-property owners and install gates on bike paths that enter into Sunriver .............................................................................................................. 17 2.3.5 Alternative D – Eliminate segments 1 through 5 ....................................................................... 17 2.3.6 Alternative E – Use existing paths or keep path along existing roads ....................................... 17 2.3.7 Alternative F – Provide at least 40 vehicle slot parking lot and toilets at the Sunriver end ...... 18 2.4 Alternatives Considered in Detail ..................................................................................................... 19 2.4.1 Alternative 1 – No Action .......................................................................................................... 19 2.4.2 Alternative 2 ............................................................................................................................... 19 Paved Path ...................................................................................................................................... 19 Path Design and Construction ......................................................................................................... 22 Roads ............................................................................................................................................... 24 Benham East Day Use Area ............................................................................................................. 25 Lava Land Visitor Center Parking Lot .............................................................................................. 25 2.5 Comparisons of Alternatives ............................................................................................................. 29 2.6 Project Design Elements ................................................................................................................... 29 2.6.1 Resource Protection Measures ................................................................................................... 30 Recreation ....................................................................................................................................... 30 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................................ 31 Fisheries and Water ........................................................................................................................ 31 Scenery ............................................................................................................................................ 32 Noxious Weeds ............................................................................................................................... 32 Soils ................................................................................................................................................. 32 Engineering/Roads .......................................................................................................................... 33 Cultural Resources .......................................................................................................................... 34 Sunriver to Lava Lands Paved Path EA 2.6.2 Monitoring ................................................................................................................................. 34 Fisheries and Water ........................................................................................................................ 34