Bradley Brook Relocation Project. Scoping Notice. Saco Ranger District. United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service

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1 Bradley Brook Relocation Project United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Scoping Notice White Mountain National Forest February 2011 For Information Contact: Jenny Burnett White Mountain National Forest 33 Kancamagus Hwy Conway, NH Phone: X109 Fax:

2 Scoping Report Bradley Brook Trail Maintenance and Relocation Project White Mountain National Forest Introduction The of the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) is initiating a public scoping for the Bradley Brook Trail Maintenance and Relocation on WMNF land in the Town of Chatham, New Hampshire. This Report includes the Purpose and Need for the project, a description of the Proposed Action, the Decisions to be Made, and information on How You Can Submit Comments to the Forest Service. The enclosed map displays the proposed project area. Purpose and Need The Bradley Brook Snowmobile Trail runs easterly from the Slippery Brook Snowmobile Trail near Round Mountain, to the Corridor 19 Snowmobile Trail in Chatham. It serves as an important connector from North Conway to Corridor 19, allowing for a loop route with other trails that return to Conway via Fryeburg, Maine, or the Switchback trail that returns directly to Slippery Brook Snowmobile Trail, making for a convenient shorter loop route. Other users may embark on one way trips continuing north or south to other trails on the state trail system. Due to drainage issues that are impacting resources and the inability to complete the substantial maintenance required to safely groom and ride, the use of Bradley Brook Snowmobile trail has declined over the last several years. Recently, interest in improving and maintaining this trail has increased with the rise in snowmobile use in New England and rental capacity in the greater Mt. Washington Valley. The State of New Hampshire Trails Bureau has expressed strong interest in making the needed improvements to Bradley Brook Trail and intends to provide the funding and work force needed to implement the proposed action, as well as for winter trail grooming and regular maintenance. Currently there is approximately 1,440 feet of poorly drained trail that is causing resource damage and difficulties with maintenance and grooming. A new trail needs to be located on nearby terrain that is more appropriate and sustainable. The remaining sections of the existing trail are in moderate need of drainage, brushing, widening, and minor re-alignment work to safely accommodate a trail groomer and to protect forest resources. The proposed relocation and trail maintenance will significantly improve the safety and sustainability of the Bradley Brook snowmobile trail, as well as protect forest resources. The Bradley Brook trail is in the general Forest Management Area (Management Area 2.1). The proposed trail relocation is compatible with the standards and objectives for this area as identified in the 2005 Land and Resource Management Plan (USDA-Forest Service, 2005): 2

3 Trail construction, reconstruction, and maintenance should be consistent with the appropriate management direction. Trails should be maintained to standards described in FSH , consistent with the ROS (Recreation Opportunity Spectrum) objectives of each management area. Proposed Action The Forest Service proposes to relocate approximately 1,440 feet of poorly drained trail onto an upgraded forest road (FR 5049) for approximately 1,000 feet. Eight hundred feet of new trail construction would also be required to connect the relocated segment to the existing trail. Short intermittently wet sections of the existing trail would receive drainage improvements, minor amounts of on-site grading, and a few minor brook crossings may need bridging or open-bottom box culverts. The eliminated 1,440 feet of very wet trail would be closed and rehabilitated as needed. This may include obscuring the trail ends with brush and stabilizing as necessary. Stabilization techniques may include minor drainage structures, including water bars or check dams, designed to reduce erosion. If approved, the new trail segments will be constructed to standards as referenced in Forest Service Handbook The construction and rehabilitation work will be completed by crews provided by the NH State Trails Bureau, and work will be overseen by a Forest Service employee. Project components are displayed in the attached maps. Decisions to be Made After receiving your input, other public comments, and recommendations from an interdisciplinary team of resource specialists, the Saco District Ranger, as the Responsible Official, will decide: 1. The level of analysis necessary to assess and document the environmental effects of this proposed project. This includes determining whether this project meets criteria for categorical exclusion from documentation in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment, including an assessment of any extraordinary circumstances (as defined in FSH , Chapter 30.3), and whether there is sufficient information and analysis to make a decision to implement the proposed project; 2. What mitigation measures and monitoring requirements will help assure the proposed project meets Land and Resource Management Plan standards and guidelines for all resources, and 3. Whether a Forest Plan amendment will be required to accommodate this project. If no significant issues or extraordinary circumstances are identified, it is possible that the project may be categorically excluded from documentation in an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement under FSH , Chapter 32.12(4), Repair and Maintenance of Roads, Trails and Landline Boundaries. Once the level of documentation is determined and the analysis is completed, copies of the environmental analysis and decision documents will be mailed to people who submit comments during this scoping period, and to people who request copies. Findings of Preliminary Analysis Preliminary reviews and surveys of the project areas by resource specialists indicate that the following resource conditions exist: 3

4 1. Threatened and Endangered Species or Their Critical Habitat A botanical survey was completed during the 2010 field season. To date, no Federally Listed Threatened or Endangered Species, Designated Critical Habitat, Species Proposed for Federal Listing or Proposed Critical Habitat, or Regional Forester Sensitive Species has been observed or is known to be present. A complete Biological Evaluation will be conducted during the environmental analysis process. 2. Floodplains, Wetlands, or Municipal Watersheds The project will not result in an adverse effect to any floodplains, wetlands, or any municipal water supply. 3. Congressionally Designated Areas The project area does not include a Congressionally Designated Wilderness Area, and all actions will be compatible with the Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (USDA- Forest Service, 2005). 4. Inventoried Roadless Areas A small portion of the project area occurs in the Wild River Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA). This portion of the project involves the actual trail relocation and occurs largely on an existing road template. A small section (800 feet +/-) of new trail construction would also be needed. Areas to the south of the current trail location were assessed as potential relocation routes; however topography and persistently wet ground made these options unsuitable. The benefits to forest resources of selecting the proposed relocation are evident. 5. Research Natural Areas The proposed project area is not located within or adjacent to a Research Natural Area (RNA) or a candidate RNA. 6. American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites & Archaeological Sites, or Historic Properties or Areas The WMNF Cultural Resources Atlas shows no known cultural sites in the project area. Site specific surveys were completed and an Archaeological Resource Report is being prepared for review by the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). How You Can Submit Comments Comments should include the following information: 1.Your name, address, and, if possible, your address. 2.The title of the project you are commenting on. 3.Your specific concerns and reasons the concern may lead to environmental effects. The purpose of soliciting your comments during this scoping period is to collect additional information and to identify any unresolved issues regarding the proposal. To be sure your comments are responsive they should be specific to the proposed action. Be sure to provide supporting rationale for your comments, including concerns about environmental effects of the proposed project. Please be aware that your name, address and comments will become part of the public record and may be available for public inspection. Written comments must be postmarked by the Postal Service, ed, Faxed or otherwise submitted by 11:59 pm ET on March 10,

5 You may submit your comments to the Forest Service via any one of the following means: 1. Mail send to Jenny Burnett, Saco Ranger Station, 33 Kancamagus Highway, Conway, NH FAX send attn: Jenny Phone contact Jenny X 109 or use Send to (comments-eastern-white-mountain-saco@fs.fed.us), and must include an identifiable name. Comments submitted as electronic documents must be in plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rft) or Word (.doc) format. You should receive an automated electronic acknowledgement as confirmation of receipt of your comments. If you do not receive acknowledgement, it is your responsibility to ensure timely receipt by other means. 5. Oral comments may be submitted Monday through Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm, by phone ( ) or in person; and must be received by close of business on March 10, Thank you for your interest in the management of the White Mountain National Forest. Sincerely, /s/ Erick J. Walker ERICK J. WALKER Acting District Ranger 5