United States Department of Agriculture Orogrande OHV Forest Service Trail Project March 2012 Environmental Assessment North Fork Ranger District Clearwater National Forest Orogrande OHV Trail Project Environmental Assessment Orogrande OHV Trail Project Environmental Assessment Orogrande OHV Trail Project Environmental Assessment North Fork Ranger District Clearwater National Forest Northern Region, USDA Forest Service March 2012 Responsible Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Official: Kathryn Rodriguez, District Ranger North Fork Ranger District 12730 Hwy 12 Orofino, ID 83544 For further information, contact: Tammy Harding, Interdisciplinary Team Leader Lochsa Ranger Station rd 903 3 Street Kamiah, ID 83536 “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. 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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.” Orogrande OHV Trail Project Environmental Assessment Orogrande OHV Trail Project Environmental Assessment Table of Contents Page Number CHAPTER 1 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION Introduction . 1 Background . 1 Purpose and Need . 1 Proposed Action . 2 Desired Condition . 3 Existing Condition . 3 Tribal Consultation . 4 Public Involvement . 4 Environmental Issues . 4 Regulatory Framework and Consistency . 7 CHAPTER 2 ALTERNATIVES Alternative Development Process . 13 Alternative 1 – No Action . 13 Alternative 2 – Proposed Action . 13 Design Features . 15 Alternatives Considered but not Analyzed in Detail . 16 Alternative Comparison . 17 CHAPTER 3 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS Recreation . 19 Water Quality/Fisheries. 22 Soils . 26 Wildlife . 27 CHAPTER 4 OTHER REQUIRED ANALYSIS Effects of Alternatives on Prime Farm Land, Rangeland and Forest 54 land . Energy Requirements of Alternatives . 54 Effects of Alternatives on Minorities and Women . 54 Environmental Justice . 54 List of Preparers . 54 APPENDICES Maps . 55 Federal Consistency Checklist. 62 Best Management Practices. 65 References. 79 Cumulative Effects. 85 Orogrande OHV Trail Project Environmental Assessment CHAPTER 1 - PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION The Forest Service has prepared this Environmental Assessment in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other relevant Federal and State laws and regulations. This Environmental Assessment discloses the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts that would result from the proposed action and alternatives. Chapter 1 identifies the purpose and need for the proposed action, the scope of the proposed action, and the decisions to be made. Additional documentation, including more detailed analyses of project-area resources, may be found in the project planning record located at the Lochsa Ranger District Office in Kamiah, Idaho. A. Introduction The North Fork Ranger District of the Clearwater National Forest (CNF) proposes to create an Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) loop trail system in the Orogrande Creek area. Encompassing 68 miles (60 miles on National Forest System (NFS) lands and 8 miles on Idaho Department of Lands and Potlatch Corporation lands), this loop would tie into the existing Clarke Mountain OHV trailhead to the north; extend to the Bighorn Weitas Roadless Area boundary to the east, Forest Road 547 to the south, and the Forest Boundary to the west. The route would primarily consist of existing roads and trails. Proposed actions would entail minor amounts of new trail construction, trail reconstruction and changes to travel restrictions on various roads. B. Background Increasing numbers of OHV users, with vehicles having increased off-road capabilities, are visiting the North Fork Ranger District. This increases the possibility of user created routes and subsequent erosion and maintenance issues. The Clearwater National Forest has limited opportunities for OHV users to ride long, primitive trail/road loop-routes that provide access to scenic, rugged country with high elevation vistas. There is an existing system of old logging roads and skid trails in the project area that have been used by OHV’s over the last several years. These routes were used as the starting point to create an OHV loop trail system which would tie into the existing Clarke Mountain OHV trail and trailhead to the south and the Sheep Mountain/Camp 60 OHV Trail to the north. C. Purpose and Need The purpose and need for action is based on management direction in the Clearwater National Forest Plan (CFP) to “provide a range of quality outdoor recreational opportunities within a Forest environment that will meet public needs now and in the - 1 - Orogrande OHV Trail Project Environmental Assessment future” (Forest Goal 1.a, CFP p. II-1). The Forest Service would create an OHV loop trail system in the Orogrande Creek area of the North Fork district to provide an enhanced motorized recreational opportunity to a growing segment of recreationists. Purpose: The purpose of this project is to provide a safe, high quality OHV trail experience in a forested setting appropriate for motorized recreation. OHV routes would offer interpretive and educational signing that promotes public understanding of proper use of and enjoyment of Forest resources. Need: There is a need to provide safe routes that are well designed, in locations that would minimize resource damage, and that can be maintained at reasonable cost (Forest Goal 15. a, b, and d, CFP p. II-3 to II-4). Within this area of the district, there are an increasing number of OHV users and they share the roads with other types of vehicles. Some of these roads are busy, mainline roads where vehicles travel at a high rate of speed. Redirecting OHV traffic to other roads would minimize conflicts with traffic and provide for safer passage. The growing numbers of OHV users along with vehicles having increased off-road capabilities can increase the potential for resource damage. A lack of designated loop routes of substantial length can lead to exploring of non-designated off road/trail routes by users. D. Proposed Action This proposal would provide an OHV loop system on 60 miles of NFS roads and trails in the Orogrande Creek area of the North Fork District. The proposed route continues onto 8.7 miles of Roads 5055, 5055A and 669 on lands owned by Potlatch Corporation and Idaho Department of Lands (IDL). These roads are currently open to public access, but public use is subject to rules and regulations determined by the private landowners. This proposal does not propose to conduct any activities except on National Forest lands. This proposal consists of the following activities. Construct 1.7 miles of new trail consisting of 5 short segments (see attached map). Reconstruct 1.2 miles of Trail 17 to accommodate all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Reconstruct 2.9 miles of Trail 88 to accommodate ATVs. Change travel restrictions on 1.2 miles of Trail 17 to permit ATV traffic Change travel restrictions on 12.6 miles of Forest Roads 5201, 5209, 5214, 5227A, 5235, 5235C, 5240, 5240B and 73005 as shown in Table 1 below. Trail construction standards would include a tread width of up to 6 feet, clearing width of up to 12 feet, and a desired maximum sustained grade of 15 percent. Grades may vary up to 25 percent in short pitches or climbing turns. Drainage dips would be installed on sustained grades, about 100 feet apart. Where needed, vegetation would be cleared on roads and trail tread established. Directional and educational signing may be placed along the routes and at intersections. Interpretive signing would be installed - 2 - Orogrande OHV Trail Project Environmental Assessment at points along the route where unique geologic, historic or prehistoric and natural or management processes are evident or took place. This document discusses motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), OHVs, Utility Vehicles (UTVs) and small vehicles. To avoid confusion, the following describes the differences between these vehicles. OHVs are motorized vehicles capable of traveling off the “normal” highway system. Such vehicles include 4x4’s, dirt bikes, motorcycles, trail bikes, snowmobiles, UTVs and ATV’s like three or four wheelers. ATV’s consist of all vehicles with three or more wheels that are less than 50 inches in total width measured at their widest point, with a saddle-style seat that is straddled by the operator and steered with handlebars. “Small Vehicles” are not just defined by width. Specifically, they are ATV’s and motorcycles, but not UTV’s. E. Desired Condition The desired conditions for this landscape are based on Forest Plan direction. Forest wide goals and objectives are met within the project area through the development of motorized recreation opportunities. By providing agency approved facilities such as OHV trails constructed to Forest Service standards, existing user created trails