FOREST SUPERVISOR’S CLOSURE ORDERS RECREATION AND VISUALS RESOURCE REPORT PREPARED BY: Mark Engler Acting Recreation Program Manager with Matt Able Acting Recreation Program Manager Daniel Boone National Forest February 24, 2015 Updated April 20, 2015 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits 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 TTY). 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Forest Supervisor’s Closure Orders Recreation and Visual Resources Report Table of Contents Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Proposed Action and Alternatives .............................................................................................................................................. 1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Existing Condition .......................................................................................................................................... 2 Desired Condition ........................................................................................................................................... 3 Environmental Consequences ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 Alternative 1 – No Action ............................................................................................................................ 4 Alternative 2 – Proposed Action ............................................................................................................... 5 Summary ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 6 Appendices Appendix A - References....................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Appendix B - Developed Recreation Sites by District, Daniel Boone National Forest ................................................ 6 Appendix C - Daniel Boone National Forest Trails ..................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Appendix D - Location ......................................................................................................................................................................... 10 i Forest Supervisor’s Closure Orders Recreation and Visual Resources Report INTRODUCTION This analysis will focus on the potential impacts of the proposed Forest Supervisor’s Closure Orders (Orders) on the recreation and visual resources of the Daniel Boone National Forest (DBNF). Some of the prohibitions included in the proposal focus on modifying human behavior to provide a safe experience for visitors while providing protection for the natural resources on national forest system lands (NFS). PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES The proposed action, which would provide an indefinite duration until rescinded for the 12 prohibitions described below and a no-action alternative were considered in this report. This is a predominantly administrative action where no ground disturbance would take place. The Orders would be enforceable at the locations specified by the map or list that would accompany the Order. A vicinity map (Appendix E) and tables of NFS developed recreation sites (e.g. campgrounds, horse camps, Appendix B), and NFS trails (Error! Reference source not found.) are located at the end of this document. Each Order would remain in place until amended or terminated by the Forest Supervisor. Additional Orders already in place and the associated prohibitions can be found on the DBNF’s website (http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/dbnf/alerts-notices). The proposed project is an activity implementing a land management plan and is subject to pre-decisional objection process at 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B. NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE Under this alternative, no action would be taken at this time. Existing Orders would be allowed to expire and would not be renewed. PROPOSED ACTION ALTERNATIVE The Daniel Boone National Forest Supervisor proposes to authorize Closure Orders of an indefinite duration for the 12 prohibitions described below. RECREATIONAL PROHIBITIONS: 1. The use of gasoline or diesel powered motorcraft would be prohibited in the non-motorized areas of Cave Run Lake, Carrington Lake, Rebel Trace Lake, Clear Creek Lake, a portion of Ramey Creek, and a portion of Scott Creek on the Cumberland Ranger District. Electric trolling motors would be permitted in the listed lakes, and would be exempt from this Order. This prohibition has recently expired. 2. Camping in violation of posted signs would be prohibited across the DBNF. Signs are frequently posted to give visitors some guidelines for camping. Examples include, but are not limited to camp site limitations, hazardous conditions (e.g. fire, flooding). This prohibition has recently expired. 3. Riding, hitching, tethering or hobbling a horse or other saddle or pack animal in violation of posted instructions would be prohibited. Posted instructions may limit the locations where saddle or pack animals may be used and rested; the instructions might also be a closure due to hazardous conditions (e.g. fire, flooding). This prohibition, applicable solely to NFS horse camps, has recently expired. This proposal would apply this prohibition to those horse camps as well as NFS campgrounds and NFS trailheads. Page | 1 Forest Supervisor’s Closure Orders Recreation and Visual Resources Report 4. Climbing or rappelling within 300 feet of Sky Bridge, Gray’s Arch, Nada Tunnel or Chimney Top Rock overlook in the Red River Gorge area of the Cumberland Ranger District would be prohibited. This prohibition has recently expired. 5. Climbing, rappelling or otherwise attempting to ascend or descend from cliffs, arches or other rock formations would be prohibited. The applicable areas for this prohibition are the Bee Rock Overlook on the London Ranger District, and both Natural Arch Scenic Area and Three Forks of Beaver Overlook on the Stearns Ranger District. This prohibition is currently in effect under a soon- to-expire Order. This prohibition has recently expired. 6. Shortcutting a switchback on trails in the DBNF would be prohibited. This prohibition has recently expired. NATURAL RESOURCE PROHIBITION 7. Entry into areas closed for the protection of endangered, threatened, rare, unique or vanishing species of plants, animals, birds or fish on and around Cave Run Lake and Laurel River Lake would be prohibited. This prohibition has recently expired. 8. The use of metal detectors, electronic apparatuses, or any other device for the purpose of locating any metal object. This prohibition would be a new one for the DBNF, and would apply forestwide excluding the Twin Knobs and Zilpo Recreation Area swimming beaches. TRANSPORTATION PROHIBITIONS 9. Using a Forest System Road for commercial hauling without first obtaining a permit or authorization would be prohibited across the DBNF. This prohibition has recently expired. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT EXISTING CONDITION The Daniel Boone National Forest is considered an urban forest, primarily due to its proximity to large cities and populations. The majority of National Forest visitors originate from major cities such as Cincinnati, Columbus, Indianapolis, Lexington and Louisville. Over 5 million annual visitors make recreation one of its largest of multiple uses. The Daniel Boone National Forest offers a wide variety of developed and dispersed recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, picnicking, backpacking, rock climbing, motorized and non-motorized boating, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, off-highway vehicle riding, mountain biking and sightseeing. Recreational use continues to be in high demand and this trend is likely to continue. Within the Forest, various conditions exist with regard to recreational resources. The Forest strives to provide for a safe and enjoyable visitor opportunity at developed recreation sites and dispersed recreation areas. Developed recreation sites include such areas as campgrounds, picnic and scenic overlooks. Dispersed recreation provides a more natural recreational setting, often with minimal facilities or site improvements. These sites can be considered more primitive in nature due to a lack of development. Ultimately, visitor use must be managed within the limits of identified