F National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Monocacy National Battlefield Frederick County, Maryland Title Pag e MONOCACY NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD PUBLIC ACCESS PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT JANUARY 2017 Monocacy National Battlefield Public Access Plan EA This page is intentionally left blank ii Monocacy National Battlefield Public Access Plan EA Note to reviewers and respondents To comment on this EA, you may mail comments or submit them online by February 28, 2017 at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/MONO and follow the appropriate links. Please be aware that your comments and personal identifying information may be made publicly available at any time. While you may request that NPS withhold your personal information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Please mail comments to: Superintendent Monocacy National Battlefield 4632 Araby Church Road Frederick, MD 21704 iii Monocacy National Battlefield Public Access Plan EA Table of Contents List of Tables .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. v Purpose and Need ......................................................................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Need for the Action ................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Project Objectives ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Project Area ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................2 Planning Issues and Concerns Retained for Detailed Analysis ...................................................................................................5 Planning Issues and Concerns Dismissed from Further Analysis ..............................................................................................6 Alternatives .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................9 Alternative A: No-Action .....................................................................................................................................................................................9 Alternative B: Action Alternative ................................................................................................................................................................. 11 Alternatives Considered But Dismissed ................................................................................................................................................23 Environmentally Preferable Alternative...................................................................................................................................................24 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences .............................................................................................................25 Historic Buildings and Structures ...............................................................................................................................................................29 Cultural Landscapes ..........................................................................................................................................................................................33 Archeological Resources ...............................................................................................................................................................................38 Wetlands and Streams .....................................................................................................................................................................................41 Water Resources and Stormwater ............................................................................................................................................................44 Vegetation ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................47 Geology and Soils ...............................................................................................................................................................................................51 Visitor Use and Experience ............................................................................................................................................................................54 Operations ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................58 Summary of Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................................................................60 Mitigation Measures of the Action Alternatives ................................................................................................................................. 62 Consultation and Coordination ........................................................................................................................................................................64 List of Preparers and Contributors ................................................................................................................................................................. 66 References ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................67 APPENDIX A.................................................................................................................................................................................................................70 Section 7 Consultation ..........................................................................................................................................................................................70 iv Monocacy National Battlefield Public Access Plan EA List of Figures Figure 1: Thomas House .........................................................................................................................................................................................4 Figure 2: Worthington House ................................................................................................................................................................................4 Figure 3: Worthington House View ....................................................................................................................................................................4 th Figure 4: 14 New Jersey Monument..............................................................................................................................................................4 Figure 5: Visitor Center Trail Head .....................................................................................................................................................................4 Figure 6:Thomas Farm Stone House ...............................................................................................................................................................4 Figure 7: Gambrill Mill Boardwalk ........................................................................................................................................................................4 Figure 8: Best Farm .....................................................................................................................................................................................................4 Figure 9: Brooks Hill Trail Head ............................................................................................................................................................................4 Figure 10: Alternative A: No-Action Alternative................................................................................................ .......................................10 Figure 11: Alternative B Action Alternative ................................................................................................................................................12 Figure 12: Plan View of Pedestrian Bridge Concept Location ........................................................................................................13 Figure 13: Perspective View of Pedestrian Bridge Concept, looking northwest ................................................................