Environmental Assessment United States Department of Agriculture North Kaibab Ranger District Forest Service Travel Management Project Southwestern Region September 2012 Kaibab National Forest Coconino and Mohave Counties, Arizona Information Contact: Wade Christy / Recreation & Lands Kaibab National Forest - NKRD Mail: P.O.Box 248 / 430 S. Main St. Fredonia, AZ 86022 Phone: 928-643-8135 E-mail: [email protected] It is the mission of the USDA Forest Service to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. 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 of communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Printed on recycled paper – September 2012 Environmental Assessment North Kaibab Ranger District Travel Management Project Contents List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................... ii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................. iii Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 1 Document Structure .................................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1 – Purpose and Need / Proposed Action ................................................................................... 2 Background ............................................................................................................................................... 2 Project Area Description ........................................................................................................................... 3 Purpose and Need for Action .................................................................................................................... 6 Existing and Desired Conditions ............................................................................................................... 6 Proposed Action ...................................................................................................................................... 11 Kaibab Forest Plan Direction .................................................................................................................. 11 Decision Framework ............................................................................................................................... 12 Public Involvement ................................................................................................................................. 12 Issues ....................................................................................................................................................... 13 Chapter 2 – Description of Alternatives ................................................................................................. 15 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 15 Process Used to Develop the Alternatives .............................................................................................. 15 Alternatives Analyzed in Detail .............................................................................................................. 15 Comparison of Alternatives Analyzed in Detail ..................................................................................... 18 Mitigation Measures ............................................................................................................................... 23 Monitoring .............................................................................................................................................. 23 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study ................................................................ 24 Chapter 3 – Environmental Effects ......................................................................................................... 26 Recreation and Scenic Resources............................................................................................................ 26 Soils, Watershed, and Air Quality........................................................................................................... 45 Rare and Sensitive Plant Species ............................................................................................................ 63 Non-Native and Invasive Species ........................................................................................................... 69 Wildlife ................................................................................................................................................... 72 Cultural Resources .................................................................................................................................. 86 Range Management............................................................................................................................... 100 Fire and Fuels Management .................................................................................................................. 103 Vegetation Management ....................................................................................................................... 104 Lands and Minerals ............................................................................................................................... 105 Social and Economic Environment ....................................................................................................... 106 Transportation ....................................................................................................................................... 110 Climate Change ..................................................................................................................................... 113 Other Disclosures .................................................................................................................................. 114 Chapter 4 – Consultation and Coordination ........................................................................................ 115 Tribal Consultation Summary ............................................................................................................... 116 Glossary of Terms ................................................................................................................................... 120 i Environmental Assessment North Kaibab Ranger District Travel Management Project References ................................................................................................................................................ 128 Appendix 1 – Proposed Forest Plan Amendment ................................................................................ 133 Appendix 2 – Projects Considered in Cumulative Effects .................................................................. 134 Appendix 3 – Maps ................................................................................................................................. 137 Appendix 4 – Consideration of / Response to Comments .................................................................... 142 List of Tables Table 1. Existing Road System Mileage by Maintenance Level .................................................................. 7 Table 2. Summarized total big game harvests from the NKRD in 2009 and the estimated number of harvests using motorized means of retrieving game ................................................................................... 10 Table 3. Roads with proposed dispersed camping corridors ...................................................................... 16 Table 4. Comparison of Alternatives – Key Design Features ..................................................................... 18 Table 5. Comparison of Alternatives - Key Issues Addressed .................................................................... 19 Table 6. Comparison of Alternatives - Summary of Effects on Resources ................................................ 20 Table 7. Kaibab National Forest visitation in 2005. ................................................................................... 27 Table 8. Top five recreation activities on the Kaibab National Forest. ...................................................... 27 Table 9. Percent of National Forest visits indicating use of special