Environmental Assessment Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Reroute Lujan to La Garita Wilderness Saguache Ranger District, Rio Grande National Forest, Saguache County, Colorado Gunnison County, Colorado and Gunnison Ranger District, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests October, 2012 i To review this EA on line, go to www.fs.usda.gov/projects/riogrande/landmanagement/projects, then look for Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Addition (EA). This EA is being released for public comment in accordance with 36 CFR 215.3. The Responsible Officials for this project will be the District Rangers of the Saguache and Gunnison Districts, of the Rio Grande and the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Only those who submit timely and substantive comments will be accepted as appellants of the final decision. Also, for appeal eligibility, each individual or representative from each organization submitting comments must either sign the comments or verify their identity upon request. Submitting Comments: The opportunity to comment ends 30 days following the date of publication of this legal notice in the Gunnison Country Times, and the Alamosa Valley Courier. Whichever publication date is later will begin the comment period. Comments may be submitted in hard copy through the mail, email, fax, or delivered by hand at Forest Service offices in Gunnison or Saguache. Office hours for hand delivery are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, weekdays. Mail comments to: CDNST, USFS 2250 Hwy 50 Delta, CO 81416 Fax comments to: 970-874-6698 Email comments to: [email protected] Further Information: For more information regarding this project please contact Jeff Burch, 970-874-6649. "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 for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720- 6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.” ii Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction/Purpose and Need/Proposed Action Document Structure ....................................................................................................... 1 Background .................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and Need for Action ......................................................................................... 2 Proposed Action ............................................................................................................. 3 Decision Framework ...................................................................................................... 6 Public Involvement ......................................................................................................... 6 Issues .............................................................................................................................. 7 Cumulative Actions to be Considered in the Analysis ................................................... 8 Chapter 2: Alternatives, including the Proposed Action ........................................... 10 Alternatives .................................................................................................................. 10 Chapter 3: Affected Environment/Environmental Consequences .............................. 14 Effects on Recreation/National Scenic Trails/User Experience/ Scenery .................... 14 Effects on Wildlife Sensitive Species ………….………………………………………………………….…30 Effects on Wildlife Management Indicator Species………………………………………..…………49 Effects on Migratory Birds …………………………………………………………………….………………..61 Effects on Threatened or Endangered Species of Wildlife ………………………………………65 Effects on Threatened or Endangered or Sensitive Plants ……………………………………….79 Effects on Cultural Resources…………………………………………………………………………….…….84 Effects on Native American Cultural/Religious Sites ………………………………………………..85 Effects on Watershed Conditions in Terms of Construction, and Use of Trails………….86 Effects on Road/Transportation System………………………………………………………………..…89 Effects on traditional grazing use Spread/Management of Noxious Weeds …………….90 Chapter 5: Consultation and Coordination .............................................................. 94 Maps and Photos Appendices Appendix A - Maps Vicinity Map Alternative 1 Map Alternative 2 Map Alternative 3 Map Alternative 4 Map Appendix B CDNST web site home page Appendix C Legal Policy and Direction iii iv CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE AND NEED/PROPOSED ACTION Document Structure ____________________________________ 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. The document is organized into the following parts: Introduction: This section includes information on the history of the project proposal, the purpose of and need for the project, and the agency’s proposal for achieving that purpose and need. This section also details how the Forest Service informed the public of the proposal and how the public responded. Alternatives, including the Proposed Action: This section provides a more detailed description of the agency’s proposed action as well as alternative methods for achieving the stated purpose. These alternatives were developed based on issues raised during scoping. Environmental Consequences: This section describes the environmental effects of implementing the proposed action and other alternatives. This analysis is organized by resource element, as suggested by issues identified in scoping. Within each section, the affected environment is described first, followed by the effects of the No Action Alternative that provides a baseline for evaluation and comparison of the other alternatives that follow. Agencies and Persons Consulted: This section provides a list of preparers and agencies consulted during the development of the environmental assessment. Appendices: The appendices provide more detailed information to support the analyses presented in the environmental assessment. Additional documentation, including more detailed analyses of project-area resources, may be found in the project planning record. Background ___________________________________________ In 1968, Congress enacted the National Trails System Act (NTSA, P.L. 90-543) which established a nationwide trail system. The Act describes that National Scenic Trails “will be extended trails so located as to provide for maximum outdoor recreation potential and for the conservation and enjoyment of the nationally significant scenic, historic, natural, or cultural qualities of the areas through which such trails may pass.” The Act also specifically directed the study of a Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST). A study of possible trail routes along the Continental Divide was initiated in 1969 and completed in 1976. In 1977, a Legislative Final Environmental Statement (FES) describing the routes was completed and filed with the Council on Environmental Quality. In 1978 Congress used the information from the Study Report and the Legislative FES to amend the NTSA. The 1 amendment established and designated the CDNST, a 3,100 mile trail corridor extending from the Montana-Canada border to the New Mexico-Mexico border. The basic goal of the CDNST is to provide hikers and horseback riders an opportunity to experience the diverse country along the Continental Divide in a manner that will assure a high quality recreation experience while maintaining a constant respect for the natural environment. The Study Report and Legislative FES were formally adopted by the Chief of the Forest Service in 1981. In 1997 the Deputy Chief of the Forest Service issued a memo to Regional Foresters stating that “…as the CDNST is further developed, it is expected that the trail will eventually be relocated off of roads for its entire length.” The memo further stated that “It is the intent of the Forest Service that the CDNST will be for non-motorized recreation. As new trail segments of the CDNST are constructed to link existing non-motorized segments together, and to reroute the CDNST off of primitive roads or other routes where motorized travel is allowed, motorized use should not be allowed or considered. Allowing motorized use on these newly constructed trail segments would substantially interfere with the nature and purpose of the CDNST.” In 2003, the Rocky Mountain Deputy Regional Forester issued a memo emphasizing the importance of working toward a high-quality non-motorized route for the CDNST in the Rocky Mountain Region by the trail’s 30th anniversary in 2008. This EA addresses