Ely District Cave & Karst Management Plan and Environmental Assessment PREPARING OFFICE: U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Ely District Office 702 N. Industrial Way Ely, NV 89301 United States April 1, 2016 i This page is intentionally left blank. ii Table of Contents PART 1: CAVE & KARST MANAGEMENT PLAN ............................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND ............................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Conformance ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.4 Definitions ....................................................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Location and Setting ....................................................................................................................... 6 1.6 Formation of Caves ........................................................................................................................ 7 1.7 Cave Resources on the District ....................................................................................................... 8 1.8 Caves on the District ..................................................................................................................... 11 1.9 Significant Caves .......................................................................................................................... 17 CHAPTER 2: MANAGEMENT DIRECTION AND OBJECTIVES ................................... 19 2.1 Objectives ...................................................................................................................................... 19 2.2 Best Management Practices .......................................................................................................... 20 CHAPTER 3: PLANNED MANAGEMENT ACTIONS ........................................................ 21 3.1 Cave Inventory .............................................................................................................................. 22 3.2 Surface Cave Management ........................................................................................................... 22 3.3 Resource Monitoring .................................................................................................................... 24 3.4 Visitor Use .................................................................................................................................... 27 3.5 Visitor Use Management............................................................................................................... 28 3.6 Safety ............................................................................................................................................. 33 3.7 Interpretation and Education ........................................................................................................ 36 3.8 Restoration .................................................................................................................................... 38 3.9 Cave Research and Collection ...................................................................................................... 41 3.10 Cave Exploration ........................................................................................................................ 42 3.11 Partnerships and Volunteers....................................................................................................... 43 3.12 White-Nose Syndrome ................................................................................................................. 43 3.13 Special Designations ................................................................................................................... 46 PART 2: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ...................................................................... 49 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ...................................................... 50 1.1 Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action .................................................................................. 50 1.2 Conformance ................................................................................................................................. 50 1.3 Decisions to be Made .................................................................................................................... 52 CHAPTER 2: DESCRIPTIONS OF ALTERNATIVES......................................................... 55 2.1 Alternative A – No Action Alternative .......................................................................................... 55 i 2.2 Alternative B – Proposed Action ................................................................................................... 55 CHAPTER 3: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ..................................................................................................................... 59 3.1 Resources/Concerns Considered for Analysis .............................................................................. 59 CHAPTER 4: CUMULATIVE IMPACTS .............................................................................. 79 4.1 Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions ........................................................ 79 4.2 Cumulative Impacts Analysis ........................................................................................................ 80 CHAPTER 5: CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION .................................................. 83 CHAPTER 6: REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 84 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................. 86 ii PART 1: CAVE & KARST MANAGEMENT PLAN CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND 1.1 INTRODUCTION Caves are an invaluable and irreplaceable part of the Nation’s natural heritage. Biological, cultural, geological, scientific, educational, and recreational resources are all affected by management of caves. Cave resource management is necessary to ensure long-term protection and conservation of these fragile resources while accommodating uses such as scientific research and exploration, as well as quality recreational caving experiences. 1.2 PURPOSE AND NEED The current Ely District Cave Management Plan (1986) does not address site-specific management actions. Revision is needed to bring the plan into compliance with current laws (e.g., Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988) and regulations while providing for site- specific management actions. The purpose of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Ely District Office (EYDO) Cave and Karst Management Plan (Plan) is to provide guidance for cave management and protection, while providing for recreation within caves across the Ely District (District) (Map 1). This Plan would establish direction for long-term management, planning, and oversight of the District’s cave resources and identify site-specific management actions for recreational use, scientific research, and management of cave resources. A cave and karst management plan is needed to establish District policy for multiple-use management practices regarding caves and cave-related resources. This Plan would provide a framework for cave resource management to preserve the delicate balance between natural, undisturbed ecosystems within caves, recreational caving, scientific research, and surface uses above caves. This Plan would also establish guidance for consistency in cave protection, recreational use, and internal cave file development and management, while identifying priorities and emergency action protocols inherent in managing cave resources. 1.3 CONFORMANCE 1.3.1 Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988 The BLM is directed by the Congress to manage Federal lands "in a manner which protects and maintains, to the extent practical, significant caves." (Federal Cave Resources Protection Act (FCRPA), 1988, Section 2 (c)). The FCRPA was the first federal legislation to recognize caves and their contents as whole integrated ecosystems. 1 MAP 1- ELY DISTRICT 2 The FCRPA and the Department of Interior (DOI) implementing regulations, 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 37, are included as appendices. The FCRPA declares that: 1) significant caves on Federal lands are an invaluable and irreplaceable part of the Nation's natural heritage; and 2) in some instances, these significant caves are threatened due to improper use, increased recreational demand, urban spread, and a lack of specific statutory protection (Section 2 (a)). The purposes of the Act are: 1) to secure, protect and preserve significant caves on Federal lands for the perpetual use, enjoyment, and benefit of all people; and 2) to foster increased cooperation and exchange of information between governmental authorities and those who utilize caves located on Federal lands for scientific, education, or recreational purposes (Section 2 (b)). The Department of Interior implementation regulations, 43 CFR Part 37.2, for the FCRPA states: