Arizona Game and Fish Department Report for Inventory of Motorized Dispersed Campsites on the Tonto National Forest

Transcription

1 Arizona Game and Fish Department Report for Inventory of Motorized Dispersed Campsites on the Tonto National Forest Prepared By: ' _2-_.J_.., +-- / S IS Specialist II, Arizona Game and Fish Dep rtment Prepared By: ---~~ <R-+

2 Table of Contents Introduction... 3 Motorized Use on the Tonto National Forest... 3 Federal and State Laws that Apply to Motor Vehicle Use... 4 Current Condition of Dispersed Camping... 4 Assumptions and Methodology of Dispersed Camping Inventory... 5 Assumptions... 5 Methodology... 6 Data Preparation Analysis Summary of Inventoried Motorized Dispersed Campsites References Page 2 of 18

3 Introduction The Arizona Game and Fish Department has been involved in travel management planning on the Tonto National Forest since 2007, with the initial proposed action in 2009, and the draft Environmental Assessment in In March 2013, the Tonto National Forest invited the Arizona Game and Fish Department to be a cooperating agency and member of the Interdisciplinary Team in the preparation of the Forest Travel Management Environmental Impact Statement in compliance with the Master Memorandum of Understanding (10-MOU ), dated February The Arizona Game and Fish Department accepted the invitation and assigned staff to cooperate and collaborate with development of the Environmental Impact Statement. In March 2014, the Arizona Game and Fish Department offered assistance to the Tonto National Forest for inventory and data collection of motorized dispersed campsites. The Arizona Game and Fish Department staff and Tonto National Forest staff met and discussed data collection methods to meet the needs of the Tonto National Forest and inform the travel management plan decision. Motorized dispersed campsite data was collected by the Arizona Game and Fish Department employees between June 1, 2014, and March 31, The Arizona Game and Fish Department Geographic Information Systems staff subsequently analyzed the data using geographic information systems software and provided results and this specialist report to the Tonto National Forest. This report summarizes the motorized dispersed campsite inventory and analysis efforts. Motorized Use on the Tonto National Forest The Tonto National Forest is the most heavily-used National Forest for motorized recreation, with nearly a million visitors using OHVs on the Tonto National Forest annually (English et al., 2004). At nearly three million acres and approximately 5.8 million visitors annually (U.S. Forest Service, 2012), many of whom visit the Tonto National Forest by motorized means, the need for travel management planning is clear. Arizona s remains the 8th fastest growing state in the U.S., with a population of 6.4 million in A growing human population places increasing demands on natural resources and the ability of the Tonto National Forest to accommodate motorized dispersed camping. Unmanaged recreation has been identified by the Forest Service as one of four key threats to the nation s forests and grasslands. The use of OHVs is seen as a major component of unmanaged use (U.S. Forest Service, 2005). During the past ten years, OHV use has increased dramatically across the nation and on millions of acres of public land in the Western United States. In Arizona, OHV use has increased by 347 percent since 1998 (Arizona State Parks, 2013), The Travel Management Rule (U.S. Forest Service, 2005) was enacted to protect further degradation of natural resources from unmanaged motorized recreation. On the Tonto National Forest, motorized users (motorized trail activity, driving for pleasure, OHV use) make up the largest percentage of recreational users at approximately 23 percent (U.S. Forest Service, 2012). 1 According to the United States Census 2012 population estimates; accessed on June 14, 2013.

4 Federal and State Laws that Apply to Motor Vehicle Use 1. Prohibition of motorized vehicles in Tonto National Forest Wilderness areas (36 CFR ); 2. Prohibition of motorized vehicles on restricted roads, trails, or areas specified in Tonto National Forest Orders (36 CFR 261.5) 3. Roads should not be damaged or left in a damaged condition (36 CFR (c)) 4. Motor vehicle use off road should not damage or unreasonably disturb the land, wildlife, or vegetative resources (36 CFR (h)) 5. Responsible official allowed to designate areas of motorized dispersed camping (36 CFR ) 6. Motor vehicle use should not damage any natural feature or other property of the United States (36 CFR 261.9(a)). 7. A.R.S. Title 17 and Title 28 relevant laws as they pertain to motorized vehicle travel a. A.R. S Unlawful cross-country motorized travel b. A.R.S The Arizona Game and Fish Department shall use the OHV recreation fund for programs related to safety, the environment and responsible use, and law enforcement activities for off-highway vehicle law enforcement. c. A.R.S The Arizona Game and Fish Department shall provide an informational and educational program on off-highway vehicle recreation and law enforcement of offhighway vehicle laws and enforcement to protect wildlife habitat. Current Condition of Dispersed Camping Use of motor vehicles off National Forest System roads to access campsites is a popular activity on the Tonto National Forest. In some instances, forest visitors park their vehicles at trailheads or along roadside locations and hike to their camping spots. Others will drive cross-country to their desired camping spot, often with a recreational vehicle or camping trailer. Frequently-used dispersed campsites, where evidence of past use exists, are located along both National Forest System roads and unauthorized routes throughout the Forest. Currently, the distance traveled from existing roads to frequently-used dispersed campsites can vary depending on the terrain and proximity to water and shade trees. Based on knowledge from Forest Service law enforcement officers and the Arizona Game and Fish Wildlife Managers, most of these dispersed campsites are within 300 feet of an existing road, including sites on the four districts where cross-country travel is currently prohibited. On the northern two ranger districts (Payson and Pleasant Valley), driving cross-country has been permitted regardless of the distance from an existing road. On the four southern ranger districts, driving off road is prohibited unless posted open and campers have been cited for driving off roads illegally. Motorized travel occurs on some unauthorized routes. An unauthorized route is not a National Forest System road or trail. It is a route that is not "A road or trail wholly or partly within or adjacent to and serving the National Forest System that the Forest Service determines is necessary for the protection, administration, and utilization of the National Forest System and the use and development of its resources" (36 CFR 212.1). These routes may appear as two track routes that access popular areas for dispersed recreation (camping, hunting, horseback riding, etc.) These routes are not kept in the Forest Service roads inventory, and do not receive maintenance. (U.S. Forest Service, 2014). Page 4 of 18

5 In June 2014, the Tonto National Forest released a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that included four alternatives that would designate how motor vehicles would be used on the forest. One alternative (C) proposed a motorized dispersed camping corridor of 100 feet both sides of designated roads and motorized trails for accessing dispersed camping. Another alternative (D) proposed a motorized dispersed camping corridor of 300 feet both sides of designated roads and motorized trails for accessing dispersed camping. It was unsure to both Arizona Game and Fish Wildlife Managers and Tonto National Forest law enforcement, along with Forest Service recreation staff, if 100 or 300 feet would allow for adequate access to dispersed camping sites. This inventory and analysis was conducted to better inform the Tonto National Forest Supervisor in designating an area to access dispersed camping. It was not until after all draft EIS comments had been received, analyzed, and responded to that the idea of designating routes to the inventoried sites themselves instead of a buffer was discussed. Based on the effects associated with the dispersed camping buffers, it was decided by the Forest Supervisor to instead analyze the effects of these spur routes that access the inventoried sites. Assumptions and Methodology of Dispersed Camping Inventory Assumptions Collection of Motorized Dispersed Camping Sites: Motorized dispersed recreationists use the existing forest roads and motorized trails to reach their desired camping location, some of which may be unauthorized. Motorized use on the Tonto National Forest will continue to increase consistent with growth in Arizona s population. Current laws, rules, regulations, orders prohibiting cross-country travel (motorized dispersed camping) on the Cave Creek, Mesa, Tonto Basin, and Globe Ranger Districts of the Tonto National Forest are adhered to by motorized recreationists. The number of motorized dispersed campsites inventoried and analyzed during this effort and the calculated shortest distance of associated spur roads to the campsites provides a reasonable representation of all motorized dispersed campsites across the Tonto National Forest. Existing motorized dispersed campsites collected during this effort will continue to be used after a decision is made on the Tonto National Forest Travel Management Plan. Geographic points were generated and collected at the geographic center of each motorized dispersed campsite (x,y coordinates) with a collection application developed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department for cell phone usage. This application allows for ESRI ArcGIS online to sync with a cell phone through a developed collection application via a secure wi-fi connection. The application can also be used without a wi-fi connection and be synced later with the database. The collection application allows for viewing maps, zooming to an area identified and uploading information to the database on the site based on specific criteria developed for the application. Please refer to the Methodology section for more detailed discussion. Page 5 of 18

6 Those motorized dispersed campsites that exist greater than 100 feet within designated wilderness areas or inventoried roadless areas were eliminated from further analysis. An exception was made for designated spur roads up to the boundary at which point the Forest user would have to use nonmotorized means to access the campsite. In some cases, existing motorized dispersed campsites exist along previously designated roads within inventoried roadless areas; these campsites were eliminated from further analysis as designation of the associated spur roads would be contrary to the Inventoried Roadless Area Conservation Final Rule (U.S. Forest Service, 2001). Calculation of Additional Mileage Associated with Motorized Dispersed Camping Sites: The shortest distance (miles) from the collected campsite s x/y coordinate (GPS position) to the Alternative C road or motorized trail open to the public represents the actual distance of the spur road leading to each inventoried motorized dispersed campsite. The total mileage associated with motorized dispersed camping spur roads on Tonto National Forest is the sum of the calculated shortest distances described in the methodology section of this report. Some motorized dispersed campsites exist on roads or motorized trails not planned to be open to the public under Alternative C. These campsites were eliminated from further analysis. In some cases, multiple motorized dispersed campsites exist along the same spur road. Those sites and their associated distances likely resulted in an over estimate of the total mileage (as the distance was taken from each individual site) associated with motorized dispersed camping. In other cases, the shortest distance calculation likely underrepresented the actual mileage of the road or motorized trail that accesses the campsite. Methodology In March 2014, Arizona Game and Fish Department staff and Tonto National Forest staff met and discussed data collection methods to meet the needs of the Tonto National Forest and help inform the travel management plan decision. A data collection form was developed and finalized by April Figure 1 is the Motorized Dispersed Inventory Form that was to be filled out electronically in the field. Figure 2 was on the back of the form and gave detailed instruction on how to complete the inventory. Page 6 of 18

7 Ranger District: UTM (Zone 12N, NAD83) E. N. Cluster Site: Yes No Distance to Nearest Designated Route: <100 feet feet >300 feet Date: Surveyor: Score 1. Litter None A few small pieces of litter and/or up to 30 sec. clean-up time. 2.Rock Fire Rings 3. Nearby campsites 4. Motorized access routes to campsite 5. Barren core area None. 1 small fire ring and/or up to 2 minutes clean-up time. 1 camp within 100 yards. Minimal litter but more than 30 seconds clean up time. 1 medium fire ring and between 2 and 10 minutes clean-up time. Moderate amount of litter and/or up to 3 min. clean up time. 1 large or 2 medium and/or up to 10 minute clean-up time. Heavy amount of litter between 3 and 10 min clean time. 2 to 3 fire rings and more than 10 minute clean-up time. Widespread litter, graffiti and or more than 10 min clean-up time. More than 3 any size and/or more than 20 min. clean-up time. None w/in 2 camps within camps within 100 yards. 4 camps within or more camps within 100 yards. yards. yards. 100 yards. None. One route Two routes Three routes Four routes 5 or more routes None. Very Small, Less than 0.25 acre Small, acre Average, acre Large, acres Comments (Limit characters. Approximate user days, primary season of use, type of recreational use, condition of site, etc): Figure 1: Motorized Dispersed Campsite Collection Form Very Large, More than 1.50 acres Total Score Page 7 of 18

8 Instructions for Motorized Dispersed Campsite Inventory, Tonto National Forest Motorized dispersed campsites or recreation sites are areas that show a history of human use; including vegetation loss, damage to natural features, fire-rings, etc. Some sites may be close to naturalized meaning evidence of human use is so vague that they might or might not be a site. However, if there is something to record by the following standards, count it! Use good penmanship and fill out all fields. When you finish a survey area, document what you completed, even if you found nothing, and make sure the information goes to the Data Steward. Ranger District: Ranger District where you are surveying. Surveyor: Who you are and your affiliation (ie- Billy Bob, Tonto NF). Date: Day month and year of survey. Cluster Site: Is there evidence of several associated campsites immediately adjacent to each other within same barren core area. UTM s: Are collected instead of Lat/Long because they are easier to pinpoint on a map. Use the NAD 83 Datum, and the Tonto is in Zone 12N. Eastings will be a 6 digit number; Northings will be a 7 digit number. Double check on your map that your unit is taking an accurate point!!!! Many data collection sessions have been for naught because of faulty GPS units. Stay in the geometric center of the campsite while collecting points. If you wander around the point may be inaccurate. Distance to Nearest Designated Route: Estimate the distance to nearest numbered route. 1. Litter: Self-explanatory on form. 2. Rock Fire Rings: The form relates the score relative to clean-up time. Estimate this and moveon. Will give an idea of frequency of use. 3. Nearby Camps: Are there other campsites within view? 4. Access routes to camp: How many motorized access routes are there to this campsite? 5. Barren Core Area: How much of the camp is down to soil/rocks/lacking vegetation? Use range finder or pacing to estimate size. ¼ acre = 10,890 sq. feet, ½ acre = 21,780 sq. feet, 1 acre = 43,560 sq. feet, 1.5 acres = 65,340 sq. feet Total Score: Sum of recorded scores above Figure 2: Instructions for Motorized Dispersed Campsite Inventory Page 8 of 18

9 The data collection form was loosely based on the Forest Service Wilderness Stewardship Performance and Forest Service Rapid Assessment protocols 2 currently used by some federal agencies and the Tonto National Forest to inventory dispersed campsites. The form was subsequently incorporated into two different mobile data collection applications developed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Program; Avenza PDF and ArcGIS Collector App for use on cellular telephones as the primary means to collect the data. Motorized dispersed campsite data was collected by Arizona Game and Fish Department employees between June 1, 2014, and March 31, The following methods were used to collect the data: 1. The cellular telephone was turned on and appropriate application made functional. 2. Data collectors used motor vehicles to locate and access dispersed campsites on existing roads or motorized trails. Cross-country travel was not required to access any of the inventoried campsites. 3. The data collector stood at the geographic center of the motorized dispersed campsite and marked a GPS waypoint using the GPS function. Waypoint data was collected in UTMs in NAD 83, 12N. 4. The mobile dispersed campsite inventory form was used to fill in required fields through drop down boxes on the mobile application. 5. Data was then uploaded and/or sent to the Arizona Game and Fish Department GIS Program for centralization, standardization, and subsequent analysis. 6. Arizona Game and Fish Department GIS Program staff provided the data and analysis to the Tonto National Forest. This data collection effort resulted in 1,861 GPS waypoints representing individual motorized dispersed campsites. Employees collected other attributes of the campsite based on the inventory form that was developed. The other attributes from these sites was not relevant for this analysis, but may be used by the Tonto National Forest in other motorized dispersed campsite management functions. Additional motorized dispersed camping datasets were provided to the Arizona Game and Fish Department GIS Program by the Tonto National Forest. Although these datasets were not collected as a part of the Arizona Game and Fish Department data collection effort, these datasets were included in the final, aggregate dataset of motorized dispersed camping locations. These additional datasets accounted for another 1,123 motorized dispersed camping records 3. 2 Various recreation site inventory forms and information are available in the Recreation Site Inventory Toolbox at 3 Datasets provided by the Tonto National Forest for Cave Creek, Pleasant Valley, Payson, and Tonto Basin Ranger Districts initially accounted for 1,998 records. Some records had identical geometries, so duplicates were removed from these datasets (based on identical x, y coordinates). The resultant output contained 934 records for these four Ranger Districts. Data provided for Globe Ranger District contained 189 records but did not contain identical geometries. Page 9 of 18

10 Data Preparation To account for potential redundancy or overlap from combining the four existing Tonto National Forest datasets with the Arizona Game and Fish Department data collection efforts, records from the Tonto National Forest datasets that fell within 75 feet of an Arizona Game and Fish Department sites were removed from the final dataset used for analysis. Only 120 such sites were removed due to redundancy or overlap within the 75 foot proximity. The final motorized dispersed camping dataset for the Tonto National Forest resulted in 2,864 records; 1,861 sites collected by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and an additional 1,003 records from the Tonto National Forest that had previously been collected through other efforts. Analysis Initially, using the Alternative C dataset from the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, the Arizona Game and Fish Department GIS Program staff conducted an analysis of the data by applying a simple buffer of 100ft and 300ft distances to all roads and motorized trails within Alternative C 4 to analyze the effects of potential access to these sites based on variability in the alternatives in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Table 1). At that time a total of 2,030 motorized dispersed campsites had been collected. Table 1: All Sites Inventoried (2014) Inside Buffer Site Count (%) Outside Buffer Site Count (%) 100 ft. Buffer 1167 (57%) 865 (43%) 300 ft. Buffer 1871 (92%) 161 (8%) Figure 3 represents motorized dispersed campsite data collected on a representative area of the Payson Ranger District on the Tonto National Forest. The Payson Ranger District was chosen because there were numerous dispersed campsites that are frequently accessed by motorized users travelling off of existing National Forest System roads. 4 Tonto National Forest provided Arizona Game and Fish Department the Draft Environmental Impact Statement Alternative C dataset on May 20 th, An updated Alternative C dataset was provided to Arizona Game and Fish Department on April 1, 2015 after completion of the motorized dispersed campsite collection period. Page 10 of 18

11 Figure 3: Example of 100 Foot And 300 Foot Buffer to Motorized Dispersed Campsites Inventoried Page 11 of 18

12 Cluster sites 5 were also inventoried during the Arizona Game and Fish Department data collection process. 215 cluster sites were inventoried. Wilderness Area and Inventoried Roadless Areas The Wilderness Area and Inventoried Roadless Area geospatial layer was overlaid with the inventoried motorized dispersed camping dataset to determine how many sites may be within these special designations. For motorized dispersed campsites within designated wilderness areas or within inventoried roadless areas, the spur roads providing access to those sites would not be designated within the wilderness area or inventoried roadless area. The portion of the spur road that exists outside of the wilderness area or outside of the inventoried roadless area will be designated up to the point that it enters the wilderness or inventoried roadless area boundary. From this point, Forest visitors would be required to pack in their camp with non-motorized means, if they desire to use those particular sites. Forty-six motorized dispersed campsites were eliminated from further analysis for four reasons: 1. They exist greater than 100 feet within a designated wilderness area boundary or greater than 100 feet within an inventoried roadless area boundary; or 2. They exist in areas adjacent to designated wilderness area or inventoried roadless areas in which designation of the spur road would create an unreasonably long motorized trail not previously open to the public in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement; or 3. They exist along portions of a road or motorized trail that is proposed to be closed to the public because portions of that road or motorized trail exist in designated wilderness areas. 4. They exist along previously designated roads within inventoried roadless areas as designation of the associated spur roads would be contrary to the Inventoried Roadless Area Conservation Final Rule. Wilderness Areas Nine motorized dispersed campsites exist more than 100 feet within a designated wilderness area boundary or exist adjacent to a designated wilderness boundary and designation of the spur road would create an unreasonably long road or motorized trail not previously proposed to be open; therefore, were eliminated from further analysis appears to be inventory error as it is located approximately 9,900 feet within Superstition Wilderness approximately 110 feet within Superstition Wilderness (110 feet from Road 213) approximately 120 feet within Salome Wilderness (2,900 feet from Road 895) appears to be immediately adjacent to Salome Wilderness Area boundary but designation would create additional spur road of approximately 2,500 feet from Road approximately 1,240 feet within Mazatzal Wilderness (1,570 feet from Road 393) approximately 605 feet within Mazatzal Wilderness (988 feet from Road 393) approximately 1,000 feet within Mazatzal Wilderness (105 feet from Road 393) 5 Cluster sites were defined by the motorized dispersed campsite inventory form as those sites that have evidence of several associated campsites immediately adjacent to each other within the same barren core area. Page 12 of 18

13 appears to be immediately adjacent to Salt River Canyon Wilderness Area boundary and designation would create additional spur road of approximately 4,600 feet from Road 303A appears to be immediately adjacent to Superstition Wilderness Area boundary and designation would create additional spur road of approximately 4,415 feet from State Route 88. Hellsgate Wilderness: Two campsites exist less than 100 feet within the Hellsgate Wilderness Area boundary adjacent to Forest Road These sites were left in the analysis and proposed to be open for Alternative C up to the point that they enter the wilderness boundary approximately 17 feet within wilderness (128 feet from Road 1673) approximately 22 feet within wilderness (46 feet from Road 1673) Sierra Ancha Wilderness: Twenty four motorized dispersed campsites (2663, 1979, 2667, 1978, 2657, 2658, 2672, 1977, 2668, 2655, 1975, 1972, 2671, 1958, 1954, 2674, 2662, 2656, 1951, 1952, 1953, 2311, 2373, 2396) exist less than 100 feet within the boundary and adjacent to the Sierra Ancha Wilderness Area along Forest Roads 203, 487, and 487A. Portions of these roads are proposed not open for the public in Alternative C, and therefore the motorized dispersed campsites along those portions of the roads were eliminated from further analysis. Superstition Wilderness: Ten motorized dispersed campsites (2871, 1157, 1158, 1160, 1180, 1197, 1203, 1217, 1223, and 891) exist less than 100 feet within Superstition Wilderness Area boundary along Forest Road 287A, 650, and 213. Only Forest Road 213 is described as being buffered 33 feet from centerline on both sides of the road as defined within the legal description of the enabling legislation for the Superstition Wilderness. These sites were left in the analysis and proposed to be open for Alternative C up until the point that they enter the wilderness boundary approximately 100 feet within wilderness (100 feet from Road 287 at Miles Ranch trailhead) approximately 28 feet within wilderness (28 feet from Road 650) approximately 48 feet within wilderness (48 feet from Road 650) approximately 92 feet within wilderness (92 feet from Road 650) approximately 30 feet within wilderness (160 feet from Road 650) approximately 100 feet within wilderness (310 feet from Road 650) approximately 90 feet within wilderness (170 feet from Road 650) approximately 31 feet within wilderness (75 feet from Road 650) approximately 62 feet within wilderness (62 feet from Road 650) approximately 93 feet within wilderness (135 feet from Road 213 at Tortilla Trailhead) Inventoried Roadless Areas Four motorized dispersed campsites exist less than 100 feet within boundaries of inventoried roadless areas. These sites were left in the analysis and proposed to be open in Alternative C to the point that they enter the inventoried roadless areas boundary approximately 60 feet within IRA (800 feet from Road 329) approximately 20 feet within IRA (50 feet from Road 203) approximately 100 feet within IRA (145 feet from Road 203) Page 13 of 18

14 approximately 15 feet within IRA ( 50 feet from Road 203) Thirteen campsites exist closer to an existing road within an inventoried roadless area than the inventoried roadless area boundary itself. An example of this situation is exhibited in Figure 4. Figure 4: Example of Existing Motorized Dispersed Campsites within Inventoried Roadless Area Boundary These campsites would not be indicated on the Motor Vehicle Use Map as designation of the associated spur road would be contrary to the Roadless Area Conservation Final Rule; therefore, these campsites were eliminated from further analysis and would become non-motorized campsites approximately 318 feet within IRA (29 feet from Road 235) approximately 351 feet within IRA (12 feet from Road 235) approximately 447 feet within IRA (60 feet from Road 235) just outside of IRA boundary but would require road designation within IRA boundary to reach the campsite (396 feet from Road 235) approximately 135 feet within IRA (38 feet from Road 410) approximately 173 feet within IRA (18 feet from Road 410) approximately 272 feet within IRA (84 feet from Road 203) approximately 2,950 feet within IRA (638 feet from Road 422) approximately 1,986 feet within IRA (176 feet from Road 422) approximately 300 feet within IRA (1,350 feet from Road 422) approximately 2,250 feet within IRA (78 feet from Road 422) approximately 2,012 feet within IRA (15 feet from Road 422) approximately 835 feet within IRA (85 feet from Road 422) Page 14 of 18

15 There were a total of 46 sites eliminated because of their association with a designated wilderness area boundary or inventoried roadless area boundary. Areas Designated for Motor Vehicle Use Motorized dispersed campsites were not collected in areas designated for motor vehicle use although it is know that this activity occurs within these areas. Determination of Additional Mileage Associated with Motorized Dispersed Campsites During the initial analysis, the Tonto National Forest discovered that approximately 92 percent of the motorized dispersed campsites on the Tonto National Forest are within 300 ft. of roads and motorized trails open to the public in Alternative C of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Table 1). Approximately 57 percent of motorized dispersed campsites on the Tonto National Forest are within 100 feet of roads and motorized trails open to the public in Alternative C of the draft EIS (Table 1). In an attempt to further analyze the effects to the environment from motorized dispersed camping, the Tonto National Forest asked the Arizona Game and Fish Department to collect additional campsites and analyze the distance from all inventoried motorized dispersed campsites to the nearest road or motorized trail open to the public in the revised Alternative C dataset provided on April 1, This mileage would represent the additional mileage to be added to the road and motorized trail system and eliminate the need for 100 foot or 300 foot motorized dispersed camping buffers described above. The Arizona Game and Fish Department used ESRI ArcGIS for Desktop Software 6 and geo-processing tools to calculate approximate distances. How Distance is Defined The distance between any two features is calculated as the shortest separation between them, that is, where the two features are closest to each other. This logic is applied by any geoprocessing tool that calculates distance, including tools such as Near, Generate Near Table, Point Distance, and Spatial Join (with closest match option). Basic Operations for Finding Distance Calculating distance is dependent on the geometry type of the features as well as other factors such as coordinate system. However, there are three basic rules, described in detail below, that determine how distance is calculated. 1. The distance between two points is the straight line connecting the points. 2. Distance from a point to a line is either the perpendicular or the closest vertex. 3. Distance between polylines is determined by segment vertices. Distance from a point to a polyline is the perpendicular or the closest vertex: In ArcGIS, line features are referred to as polylines. These two terms, line and polyline, are interchangeable. A polyline is an ordered collection of points, and these points are referred to as vertices. An individual vertice is a 6 Calculation of distance from GPS point to line feature: Accessed on 04/04/2015. Page 15 of 18

16 vertex. A polyline can have any number of vertices. The line defined by two vertices is called a line segment, or a segment. The two vertices that define a line segment are referred to as end vertices. Similarly, a polygon is an enclosed area defined by one or more polylines. The shortest distance from a point to a line segment is the perpendicular to the line segment. If a perpendicular cannot be drawn within the end vertices of the line segment, then the distance to the closest end vertex is the shortest distance (Figure 5). Figure 5: Example of Shortest Distance Calculation to Estimate Additional Mileage For those sites inventoried but not immediately adjacent to a proposed road or motorized trail open to the public under Alternative C, a new motorized trail would be designated at the time of the decision to allow motorized access to such sites. The total additional mileage from this analysis for Alternative C roads open to the public was approximately 94 miles. In some cases, the shortage distance calculation likely underrepresented the actual mileage of the road or motorized trail that accesses the campsite as shown in Figure 5. Page 16 of 18

17 In other cases, multiple motorized dispersed campsites exist along the same spur road. Those sites and their associated distances likely resulted in an over estimate of the total mileage (as the distance was taken from each individual site) associated with motorized dispersed camping. Figure 6exhibits such an example on Forest Road 172 on the Mesa Ranger District. In this scenario, six existing motorized dispersed campsites occur on a spur road off Forest Road 172. Those sites and their associated distances likely resulted in an over estimate of the total mileage of roads and motorized trails associated with motorized dispersed camping. Figure 6: Example of Inventoried Motorized Dispersed Campsites Not Immediately Adjacent to Road/Motorized Trail Summary of Inventoried Motorized Dispersed Campsites Based on the inventory and analysis, 2,864 dispersed campsites were collected. Mesa and Cave Ranger Districts combined result in 17 percent of the total sites inventoried, while the Tonto Basin Ranger District independently has 27 percent (Table 2). Table 2: Summary of Inventoried Motorized Dispersed Campsites by Ranger District Ranger District Sites Spur Roads (Miles) Cave Creek Globe Mesa Payson Pleasant Tonto Basin Total 2, Page 17 of 18

18 References Arizona State Parks Arizona 2013 SCORP: State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. English, D. B. K.; Kocis, S. M., and Hales, D. P Off-highway vehicle use on national forests: Volume and characteristics of visitors. U.S. Forest Service, Washington, DC. 25 pp. U.S. Forest Service Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Travel Management on the Tonto National Forest. U.S. Forest Service National Visitor Use Monitoring Program (NVUM) Data Collected FY U.S. Forest Service Four threats quick facts- unmanaged recreation. Retrieved from U.S. Forest Service website at U.S. Forest Service Travel Management Rule. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 36 CFR Parts 212, 251, 261, Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 216 U.S. Forest Service Inventoried Roadless Area Conservation Final Rule. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 36 CFR Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 9 Page 18 of 18