Consultants in Natural Resources and the Environment Carbondale to Crested Butte Trail Study – Crystal River Section Environmental Review Prepared for— Pitkin County Open Space and Trails 806 West Hallam Street (Forest Service Building) Aspen, Colorado 81611 (970) 429-6169 Prepared by— ERO Resources Corporation 1842 Clarkson Street Denver, Colorado 80218 (303) 830-1188 March 2018 (Updated) Denver • Durango • Hotchkiss • Idaho www.eroresources.com ERO Project 6818 Carbondale to Crested Butte Trail Study – Crystal River Section Environmental Analysis Pitkin County, Colorado Contents List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ............................................................................................... iv Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................... v Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Study Approach ............................................................................................................................ 1 Context and Study Area ............................................................................................................... 1 Existing Studies and Data Review ................................................................................................ 3 2017 Field Review ........................................................................................................................ 7 Vegetation Resources .................................................................................................................... 11 Field Review Methods ................................................................................................................ 11 General Vegetation Communities .............................................................................................. 12 High-Quality Vegetation Communities ...................................................................................... 13 Listed, Sensitive, and Rare Plants .............................................................................................. 14 Wetlands and Riparian Communities ........................................................................................ 17 Instream and Aquatic Habitat .................................................................................................... 18 Wildlife Resources.......................................................................................................................... 25 Wildlife Assessment Methodology ............................................................................................ 25 Listed and Sensitive Wildlife ...................................................................................................... 26 High-Quality Wildlife Habitat Areas ........................................................................................... 41 Landscape Disturbance .............................................................................................................. 42 Summary of Impacts from Trails and Recreation ...................................................................... 47 Potential Impacts from Secondary Trail Development .............................................................. 49 Background on Existing Seasonal Closures ................................................................................ 50 Cultural Resources ......................................................................................................................... 53 Cultural Review Methodology ................................................................................................... 53 Significant Sites .......................................................................................................................... 54 Impacts to Cultural Resources ................................................................................................... 55 Summary of Potential Impacts by Segment ................................................................................... 56 7 Oaks to Nettle Creek ............................................................................................................... 58 Red Wind Point to Andrews ....................................................................................................... 62 Perham to Janeway South ......................................................................................................... 67 Avalanche to Narrows ................................................................................................................ 71 Filoha .......................................................................................................................................... 77 i Carbondale to Crested Butte Trail Study – Crystal River Section Environmental Analysis Pitkin County, Colorado Wild Rose ................................................................................................................................... 80 Redstone to Hawk Creek ............................................................................................................ 82 Hayes Falls to Bear Creek ........................................................................................................... 85 Placita to Top of McClure Pass ................................................................................................... 88 Summary of Impacts by Trail Segment ...................................................................................... 91 Impact Mitigation Measures ...................................................................................................... 93 Literature Cited .............................................................................................................................. 96 Appendix A: Plant Species Observed during Field Review ............................................................. 105 Appendix B: ESA-Listed and USFS Region 2 Sensitive Plant Species with Potential to Occur ......... 110 Appendix C: ESA-Listed and USFS Region 2 Sensitive Species with Potential to Occur .................. 112 Tables Table 1. High-Quality Vegetation Communities within the Crystal Valley Trail Corridor .............. 15 Table 2. Crystal River FACStream Assessment Results .................................................................. 19 Table 3. Possible Impacts on Stream Habitat ................................................................................ 20 Table 4. Listed and Sensitive Species Habitat and Potential to Occur in the Study Area .............. 27 Table 5. Bighorn Sheep Habitat Areas within the Study Area ....................................................... 38 Table 6. Elk Seasonal Habitat Areas in the Study Area .................................................................. 39 Table 7. High-Quality Habitat Areas and Attributes ...................................................................... 41 Table 8. Summary of Impacts: 7 Oaks to Nettle Creek .................................................................. 58 Table 9. Summary of Impacts: Red Wind Point to Andrews .......................................................... 62 Table 10. Summary of Impacts: Perham to Janeway South .......................................................... 67 Table 11. Summary of Impacts: Avalanche to Narrows ................................................................. 71 Table 12. Summary of Impacts: Filoha ........................................................................................... 77 Table 13. Summary of Impacts: Wild Rose .................................................................................... 80 Table 14. Summary of Impacts: Redstone to Hawk Creek ............................................................. 82 Table 15. Summary of Impacts: Hayes Falls to Bear Creek ............................................................ 85 Table 16. Summary of Impacts: Placita to Top of McClure Pass .................................................... 88 Table 17. Summary of Impacts by Segment .................................................................................. 91 Figures Figure 1. Study Area ......................................................................................................................... 2 Figure 2. High-Quality Habitat and Vegetation ................................................................................ 8 Figure 3. CPW Bighorn Sheep ........................................................................................................ 37 ii Carbondale to Crested Butte Trail Study – Crystal River Section Environmental Analysis Pitkin County, Colorado Figure 4. CPW Elk ........................................................................................................................... 40 Figure 5. Landscape Disturbance ................................................................................................... 44 Figure 6. 7 Oaks to Nettle Creek .................................................................................................... 59 Figure 7. Red Wind Point to Andrews ............................................................................................ 63 Figure 8. Perham to Janeway South .............................................................................................. 68 Figure 9. Avalanche to Narrows ....................................................................................................