North Country National Scenic Trail North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York National Park Service Draft Northeastern Minnesota Route Assessment U.S. Department of the Interior And Environmental Assessment 2 Chapter 1 Purpose and Need ..................................................................................................................7 1.1 Purpose and Significance of the North Country National Scenic Trail......................................7 1.2 Purpose and Need for the Route Assessment.............................................................................8 1.3 Decision to be Made...................................................................................................................8 1.4 Scoping and Public Involvement................................................................................................9 1.5 Primary Issues and Concerns....................................................................................................10 1.6 Impact Topics Considered but not Analyzed in Detail ............................................................11 1.6.1 Environmental Justice .........................................................................................................11 1.6.2 Soundscapes ........................................................................................................................11 1.6.3 Prime or Unique Farmland ..................................................................................................12 1.6.4 Northeastern Minnesota Air Quality ...................................................................................12 1.7 Availability of planning record ................................................................................................12 Chapter 2 Alternatives..........................................................................................................................13 2.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................................13 2.2 No Action Alternative ..............................................................................................................14 2.3 Preferred Alternative ................................................................................................................14 2.3.1 Preferred Alternative Part 1-Designate Existing Trails as the route of North Country National Scenic Trail.......................................................................................................................................14 2.3.1.1 Jay Cooke State Park through Duluth to Existing Superior Hiking Trail ........................15 2.3.1.2 Superior Hiking Trail .......................................................................................................15 2.3.1.3 Border Route Trail............................................................................................................16 2.3.1.4 Kekekabic Trail ................................................................................................................16 2.3.2 Preferred Alternative-Part 2- Designate Trail Corridor for Connection to Existing Segment in Chippewa National Forest ................................................................................................................16 2.4 Alternatives Considered but Rejected-Specific Routes............................................................17 2.4.1 Mesabi Trail Corridor..........................................................................................................18 2.4.2 Echo Lake Corridor .............................................................................................................18 2.4.3 Middle Route Corridor ........................................................................................................18 2.4.4 Vermillion Lake Corridor....................................................................................................18 2.4.5 McCarthy Beach State Park to Grand Rapids .........................................................................19 2.5 Alternatives Considered but not Evaluated ..............................................................................19 Preferred Alternative Map............................................................................................................21 Chapter 3 Affected Environment........................................................................................................23 3.1 Location and Description of Preferred Alternative Route Corridor.........................................23 3.2 County Overview......................................................................................................................23 3.2.1 Aitkin County ......................................................................................................................23 3.2.3 Carlton County ....................................................................................................................23 3.2.3 Cass County.........................................................................................................................24 3.2.4 Cook County........................................................................................................................24 3.2.5 Itasca County.......................................................................................................................24 3.2.6 Lake County ........................................................................................................................24 3.2.7 St. Louis County..................................................................................................................25 3.3 Northeastern Minnesota Land Resources.................................................................................25 3.3.1 Landscape............................................................................................................................25 3.3.2 Geology ...............................................................................................................................25 3.3.3 Soils .....................................................................................................................................26 3.4 Northeastern Minnesota Water Resources .................................................................................26 3.4.1 Lake Basins .........................................................................................................................27 3 3.4.2 Wetlands..............................................................................................................................27 3.4.3 Water Quality ......................................................................................................................28 3.5 Northeastern Minnesota Visual Resources.................................................................................28 3.6 Northeastern Minnesota Biological Resources ..........................................................................28 3.6.1 Wildlife................................................................................................................................28 3.6.2 Fisheries...............................................................................................................................29 3.6.3 Threatened and Endangered Species...................................................................................29 3.6.4 State Threatened and Endangered Species..........................................................................30 3.6.5 Critical Habitat ....................................................................................................................31 3.7 Northeastern Minnesota Cultural Resources............................................................................31 3.7.1 Historical Sites and Structures.............................................................................................32 3.7.2 Number of Known Historical Districts, Sites or Structures in Project Area- Listed by County ..........................................................................................................................................32 3.8 Northeastern Minnesota Community Resources......................................................................32 3.8.1 Communities and Businesses ..............................................................................................32 3.8.2 Tourism and Hiking.............................................................................................................33 3.9 Northeastern Minnesota Land Use and Ownership..................................................................33 3.9.1 Ceded Lands ........................................................................................................................33 3.9.2 Land Values.........................................................................................................................33 3.9.3 Ownership............................................................................................................................33 3.9.4 Land Use..............................................................................................................................33 3.10 Northeastern Minnesota Recreation Resources......................................................................34 3.10.1 State Parks, State Wayside Parks, State Forests..............................................................34