Figure 1-Vicinity Map, Location of Damage Forest-wide, 2003 Flood i Table of Content Chapter 1 –Need for Action ....................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 1 Mountain Loop History, Desired Road Condition ............................................................................................. 1 October 2003 Flood Event ................................................................................................................................. 3 Need for Action .................................................................................................................................... 6 Proposed Action................................................................................................................................... 7 Proposed Repair at Milepost 33.1 (T30N, R11E, Section 29) ........................................................................... 7 Proposed Repair at Milepost 33.6 (T30N, R11E, Section 29) ......................................................................... 11 Proposed Repair at Milepost 34.8 (T30N, R11E, Section 28) ......................................................................... 16 Proposed Repair at Milepost 35.6 (T30N, R11E, Section 21) ......................................................................... 18 Project Scope...................................................................................................................................... 21 Project Scope...................................................................................................................................... 22 The Decision Framework................................................................................................................................. 22 Relationship to the Forest Plan......................................................................................................................... 22 Relationship to Other Documents .................................................................................................................... 27 Other Relevant Laws and Direction................................................................................................................. 28 Public Involvement ............................................................................................................................ 31 Significant Issues................................................................................................................................ 32 Significant or Key Issues ................................................................................................................................. 32 Other Issues...................................................................................................................................................... 33 Chapter 2 - Alternatives, Including the Proposed Action....................................................... 34 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 34 Alternative Development Process..................................................................................................... 34 Alternatives Considered But Eliminated From Detailed Study........................................................................ 35 Alternatives Considered in Detail .................................................................................................... 41 Alternative 1 - No Action................................................................................................................................. 41 Alternative–Proposed Action: Realign Road Away from River at Damaged Sites, Construct 60-Foot Bridge at Milepost 33.6 ................................................................................................................................................... 41 Alternative 3: Realign Away from River at Mileposts 33.1 and 34.8, Construct Long Multi-span Bridges at Mileposts 33.6 and 35.6 ................................................................................................................................... 45 Mitigation Measures, Management Practices and Requirements, and Monitoring for Action Alternatives 2 and 3 ....................................................................................................................................................................... 50 Required Monitoring........................................................................................................................................ 53 Comparison of Alternatives ............................................................................................................................. 54 Chapter 3 – Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ................................ 58 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 58 Aquatic Resources and Soils – Affected Environment ................................................................... 58 Project Area ..................................................................................................................................................... 58 Geology/Soils................................................................................................................................................... 59 Hydrology ........................................................................................................................................................ 60 Channel Dynamics ........................................................................................................................................... 62 Water Quality (Including 303(d) Streams)....................................................................................................... 65 Aquatic Resources and Soils – Environmental Effects................................................................... 67 Environmental Effects of Implementing Alternative 1 (No Action) – Aquatic Resources and Soils............... 68 Environmental Effects of Implementing Alternative 2 (Proposed Action –Aquatic Resources and Soils....... 70 ii Environmental Effects of Implementing Alternative 3–Aquatic Resources and Soils..................................... 74 Aquatic Resources and Soils Cumulative Effects ............................................................................................ 75 Fisheries – Affected Environment.................................................................................................... 81 Fish Presence in the Project Area..................................................................................................................... 81 Special Fish Habitat Designations.................................................................................................................... 83 Fish Habitat: Baseline Assessment at the Watershed Scale ............................................................................. 84 Fish Habitat: Baseline Assessment at the Watershed Scale ............................................................................. 85 Watershed and Fish Habitat Restoration.......................................................................................................... 87 Fisheries – Environmental Effects ................................................................................................... 87 Definitions, General Effects............................................................................................................................. 87 ESA Consultation............................................................................................................................................. 88 Environmental Effects of Implementing Alternative 1 (No Action) – Fisheries.............................................. 89 Environmental Effects of Implementing Alternative 2 (Proposed Action) – Fisheries.................................... 90 Environmental Effects of Implementing Alternative 3–Fisheries.................................................................... 92 Fisheries Cumulative Effects ........................................................................................................................... 94 Riparian Reserve Resources – Affected Environment ................................................................... 98 Channel Dynamics and the Riparian Reserve .................................................................................................. 99 Riparian Reserve Resources – Environmental Effects................................................................... 99 Environmental Effects of Implementing Alternative 1 (No Action) – Riparian Reserve Resources ............... 99 Environmental Effects of Implementing Alternative 2 (Proposed Action) and Alternative 3 – Riparian Reserve Resources ......................................................................................................................................... 100 Riparian Reserve Cumulative Effects ............................................................................................................ 101 Wild and Scenic River – Affected Environment..........................................................................