Stanislaus 19777 Greenley Road National Forest Sonora, CA 95370 Phone 209 532-3671 Stanislaus National Forest Forest Roads Analysis January 13, 2003 Revised April 7, 2003 INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................1 Background ..........................................................................................................................................1 Roads Analysis Process.......................................................................................................................1 Scales of Roads Analysis.....................................................................................................................2 Information Considered at the Forest Scale.........................................................................................2 Products................................................................................................................................................3 CHAPTER 1, SETTING UP THE ANALYSIS...............................................................................................4 Objectives of the Analysis ....................................................................................................................4 Scope and Scale ..................................................................................................................................4 Interdisciplinary Team Members and Participants: ..............................................................................4 Analysis Plan ........................................................................................................................................5 Road Inventory and Major Transportation Routes ...............................................................................5 Public Involvement ...............................................................................................................................5 Review of Completed Report................................................................................................................5 CHAPTER 2, DESCRIBING THE SITUATION ............................................................................................6 Stanislaus National Forest Roads Information.....................................................................................6 Constructing New Roads......................................................................................................................8 Funding Levels and Road Management Capabilities...........................................................................8 Jurisdiction and Rights-of-Way...........................................................................................................11 Cost Share Agreement.......................................................................................................................11 Public Forest Service Roads ..............................................................................................................12 Primary Routes...................................................................................................................................12 Federally Designated Scenic Byways ................................................................................................12 CHAPTER 3, ISSUES.................................................................................................................................13 EFFECTS OF ROADS ON WATERSHED RESOURCES .....................................................................................13 EFFECTS OF ROADS ON WILDLIFE & AQUATIC RESOURCES.........................................................................13 EFFECTS OF ROADS ON BOTANICAL RESOURCES .......................................................................................13 ACCESS NEEDS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE USES...............................................................................................13 ACCESS NEEDS FOR PUBLIC USE OF NATIONAL FOREST LAND....................................................................13 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN FOREST ROAD MANAGEMENT DECISIONS .............................................................14 HERITAGE RESOURCES AND TRADITIONAL AND CULTURAL USES.................................................................14 ROAD MAINTENANCE CAPABILITY ..............................................................................................................14 MAJOR TRANSPORTATION ROUTES ............................................................................................................14 CHAPTER 4, BENEFITS, PROBLEMS AND RISKS ................................................................................15 EFFECTS OF ROADS ON WATERSHED RESOURCES .....................................................................................15 EFFECTS OF ROADS ON WILDLIFE & AQUATIC RESOURCES........................................................................19 EFFECTS OF ROADS ON BOTANICAL RESOURCES .......................................................................................19 ACCESS NEEDS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE USES...............................................................................................21 ACCESS NEEDS FOR PUBLIC USE OF NATIONAL FOREST LAND....................................................................22 Revised Stature 2477.........................................................................................................................22 Recreation ..........................................................................................................................................23 Other Private Uses .............................................................................................................................25 Visual Quality Objectives....................................................................................................................26 Supply and Demand for Roads ..........................................................................................................26 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN FOREST ROAD MANAGEMENT DECISIONS .............................................................27 HERITAGE RESOURCES AND TRADITIONAL AND CULTURAL USES.................................................................28 MAJOR TRANSPORTATION ROUTES ............................................................................................................29 CHAPTER 5, OPPORTUNITES, PRIORITIES AND GUIDELINES...........................................................38 PRIORITIES ...............................................................................................................................................38 OPPORTUNITIES........................................................................................................................................38 Effects of Roads on Watershed Resources .......................................................................................38 Effects of Roads on Wildlife and Aquatic Resources .........................................................................39 Effects of Roads on Botanical Resources..........................................................................................39 Access Needs for Public Use of National Forest Land ......................................................................39 Public Involvement in Forest Road Management Decisions..............................................................39 Road Management .............................................................................................................................40 Major Transportation Routes..............................................................................................................40 GUIDELINES ..............................................................................................................................................41 Effects of Roads on Watershed Resources .......................................................................................41 Effects of Roads on Wildlife and Aquatic Species .............................................................................41 Access Needs for Administrative Uses ..............................................................................................41 Access Needs for Public Use of National Forest Land ......................................................................41 Heritage Resources and Traditional and Cultural Uses .....................................................................42 Road Management .............................................................................................................................42 Roads Analysis...................................................................................................................................42 REFERENCES............................................................................................................................................43 APPENDIX 1: ANALYSIS QUESTIONS ....................................................................................................45 APPENDIX 2: PUBLIC OUTREACH..........................................................................................................49 APPENDIX 3: COMMENTS: ......................................................................................................................50 APPENDIX 4 DEFINITIONS.......................................................................................................................67