United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Environmental Assessment DOI-BLM-UT-Y020-2012-0001 December 2015 Hole-in-the-Rock Foundation Trekking SRP Location: Salvation Knoll Route T. 37 S., R. 18 E., Sections 10, 11, 13 & 14 T. 37 S., R. 19 W., Section 16 and Protraction Blocks 49, 50, 51, 53, 54 & 55 Long Flat Route T. 38 S., R. 18 E., Sections 11, 12 & 13 T. 38 S., R. 19 E., Section 32 and Protraction Blocks 50, 51, 60 & 61 San Juan Hill Route T. 40 S., R. 20 E., Sections 35 & 36 T. 41 S., R. 20 E., Sections 2, 10, 11 & 15 Applicant/Address: Hole-in-the-Rock Foundation PO Box 476 Bluff, UT 84512 Monticello Field Office P.O. Box 7 Monticello, UT 84535 Phone: (435) 587-1500 Fax: (435) 587-1518 Hole-in-the-Rock Foundation Trekking SRP DOI-BLM-UT-Y020-2012-0001 Table of Contents Page 1.0 PURPOSE and NEED…………………………………………………………………………..……...1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Background ............................................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Need for the Proposed Action ................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Purpose(s) of the Proposed Action............................................................................................................ 2 1.5 Conformance with BLM Land Use Plan(s) .............................................................................................. 3 1.6 Relationship to Statutes, Regulations, or other Plans ............................................................................... 5 1.7 Identification of Issues .............................................................................................................................. 6 1.8 Issues Considered, but Eliminated from Further Analysis ........................................................................ 8 1.9 Summary of EA Organization................................................................................................................... 8 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING PROPOSED ACTION ............................... 9 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... .9 2.2 Alternative A – Proposed Action .............................................................................................................. .9 2.3 Alternative B – Hole-in-the-Rock Foundation Revisions ......................................................................... 12 2.4 Alternative C – Reduction of Group Size in Comb Wash RMZ ............................................................... 13 2.5 Alternative D – Reduce Recreation Conflict through Restrictions on Season of Use .............................. 14 2.6 Alternative E – Reduce Recreation Conflict through Restrictions on Number of Trips ........................... 14 2.7 Alternative F – No Action Alternative ...................................................................................................... 15 2.8 Alternatives Considered, but Eliminated from Further Analysis .............................................................. 15 2.9 Summary Comparison of Environmental Impacts .................................................................................... 15 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................................. 16 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 16 3.2 General Setting .......................................................................................................................................... 16 3.3 Resources Brought Forward for Analysis ................................................................................................. 16 3.3.1 ACECs ................................................................................................................................................... 16 3.3.2 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................................ 17 3.3.3 Recreation/RMZ .................................................................................................................................... 19 3.3.4 Wildlife .................................................................................................................................................. 20 3.3.4.1 Raptors/Migratory Birds ..................................................................................................................... 20 3.3.4.2 Threatened, Endangered, and Candidate Species ............................................................................... 21 3.3.4.3 Wildlife (Crucial Mule Deer Habitat) ................................................................................................ 22 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ........................................................................................................... 24 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 24 4.2 Direct & Indirect Impacts ......................................................................................................................... 24 4.3.1 Alternative A - Proposed Action ............................................................................................................ 24 4.3.1.1 ACECs ................................................................................................................................... 24 4.3.1.2 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................ 26 4.3.1.3 Recreation and the RMZ ....................................................................................................... 27 4.3.1.4 Wildlife .................................................................................................................................. 30 4.3.1.4.1 Raptors/Migratory Birds ........................................................................................ 30 4.3.1.4.2 Threatened, Endangered, and Candidate Species .................................................. 32 4.3.1.4.3 Wildlife (Crucial Mule Deer Habitat) .................................................................... 33 4.3.1.7 Monitoring and/or Compliance ......................................................................................................... 33 4.4.1 Alternative B – Hole-in-the-Rock Foundation Modifications ............................................................... 34 4.4.1.1 ACECs ................................................................................................................................... 33 4.4.1.2 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................ 34 4.4.1.3 Recreation and the RMZ ....................................................................................................... 34 4.4.1.4 Wildlife .................................................................................................................................. 35 4.5.1 Alternative C – Reduction of Group Size in Comb Wash RMZ ........................................................... 35 4.5.1.1 ACECs ................................................................................................................................... 35 4.5.1.2 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................ 36 4.5.1.3 Recreation/RMZ ................................................................................................................... 36 4.5.1.4 Wildlife .................................................................................................................................. 37 4.6.1 Alternative D – Reduce Recreation Conflict through Restrictions on Season of Use ........................... 37 4.6.1.1 ACECs ................................................................................................................................... 37 4.6.1.2 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................ 38 4.6.1.3 Recreation and the RMZ ........................................................................................................ 38 4.6.1.4 Wildlife .................................................................................................................................. 38 4.6.1.4.1Raptors/Migratory Birds ......................................................................................... 39 4.6.1.4.2 Threatened, Endangered, and Candidate Species .................................................. 39 4.6.1.4.3Wildlife (Crucial Mule Deer Habitat) ..................................................................... 39 4.7.1 Alternative E – Reduce Recreation Conflict through Restrictions on Number of Trips ........................ 39 4.7.1.1 ACECs ..................................................................................................................................