Chapter 3 – Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences December 2006 Chapter 3 - Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences .........6 Introduction..................................................................................................................... 6 Organization....................................................................................................................7 Background..................................................................................................................... 9 Cumulative Impacts ...................................................................................................... 10 Past, Present and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions .................................................. 10 3.1 Human Environment...................................................................................14 3.1.1 Wilderness................................................................................................14 3.1.1.1 Background....................................................................................................... 14 3.1.1.2 Methodology..................................................................................................... 15 Analysis Elements..................................................................................................... 16 3.1.1.3 Overview – Common to All.............................................................................. 22 Affected Environment............................................................................................... 22 Current Condition of the Kaiser Wilderness............................................................. 22 Current Condition of the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness................................................. 27 Environmental Consequences................................................................................... 33 3.1.1.4 Wilderness Level Evaluation ............................................................................ 35 KAISER WILDERNESS ........................................................................................ 35 DINKEY LAKES WILDERNESS .......................................................................... 46 ANSEL ADAMS AND JOHN MUIR WILDERNESSES .................................... 61 Affected Environment............................................................................................... 61 Environmental Consequences................................................................................... 61 3.1.2 Recreation – Non-Wilderness .................................................................63 3.1.2.1 Background....................................................................................................... 63 3.1.2.2 Methodology..................................................................................................... 67 Analysis Elements..................................................................................................... 67 3.1.2.3 Overview – Common to All.............................................................................. 69 Affected Environment............................................................................................... 69 Environmental Consequences................................................................................... 71 3.1.2.4 Analysis Unit Level Evaluation........................................................................ 75 NELDER (NED) ...................................................................................................... 75 Affected Environment............................................................................................... 75 Environmental Consequences................................................................................... 77 CLOVER (CLO) ...................................................................................................... 78 Affected Environment............................................................................................... 78 Environmental Consequences................................................................................... 80 EDISON (EDI)......................................................................................................... 81 Affected Environment............................................................................................... 81 Environmental Consequences................................................................................... 82 CHINQUAPIN (CHQ)............................................................................................. 83 Affected Environment............................................................................................... 83 Environmental Consequences................................................................................... 84 FLORENCE (FLO) ................................................................................................. 84 Affected Environment............................................................................................... 84 Commercial Pack Station Permit Reissuance and Trail Management Plan 3-1 Chapter 3 – Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences December 2006 Environmental Consequences................................................................................... 85 EAST HUNTINGTON (HNE) ................................................................................ 86 Affected Environment............................................................................................... 86 Environmental Consequences................................................................................... 87 WEST HUNTINGTON (HNW).............................................................................. 88 Affected Environment............................................................................................... 88 Environmental Consequences................................................................................... 89 DINKEY FRONT COUNTRY (DFC).................................................................... 90 Affected Environment............................................................................................... 90 Environmental Consequences................................................................................... 91 TULE MEADOW (TUL) ......................................................................................... 92 Affected Environment............................................................................................... 92 WISHON (WIS)....................................................................................................... 93 Affected Environment............................................................................................... 93 Environmental Consequences................................................................................... 93 3.1.3 Trails .........................................................................................................95 3.1.3.1 Background....................................................................................................... 95 3.1.3.2 Methodology..................................................................................................... 96 Analysis Element ...................................................................................................... 97 3.1.3.3 Overview – Common to All.............................................................................. 97 Affected Environment............................................................................................... 97 Environmental Consequences................................................................................. 100 3.1.3.4 Analysis Unit Level Evaluation...................................................................... 113 NELDER (NED) .................................................................................................... 113 Affected Environment............................................................................................. 113 Environmental Consequences................................................................................. 114 CLOVER (CLO) .................................................................................................... 117 Affected Environment............................................................................................. 117 Environmental Consequences................................................................................. 118 EDISON (EDI)....................................................................................................... 120 Affected Environment............................................................................................. 120 Environmental Consequences................................................................................. 121 CHINQUAPIN (CHQ)........................................................................................... 123 Affected Environment............................................................................................. 123 Environmental Consequences................................................................................. 124 FLORENCE (FLO) ............................................................................................... 125 Affected Environment............................................................................................. 125 Environmental Consequences................................................................................