Fremont Point Cabin Reconstruction and Expansion Project Project Proposal & Public Scoping Documentation

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Lawrence McCarthy
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Fremont Point Cabin Reconstruction and Expansion Project Fremont-Winema National Forests Silver Lake Ranger District The Silver Lake Ranger District of the Fremont-Winema National Forests is

on Winter Rim. Background of Fremont Point Cabin Fremont Point Cabin served the area as a popular Forest Service rental since the early 1990s until it was destroyed in the Winter Fire (2002).

1 Fremont Point Cabin Reconstruction and Expansion Project Fremont-Winema National Forests Silver Lake Ranger District The Silver Lake Ranger District of the Fremont-Winema National Forests is proposing to reconstruct the Fremont Point Cabin recreation rental at the cabin s former site and conduct analysis to authorize the potential construction of an overflow cabin at a separate location on Winter Rim. Background of Fremont Point Cabin Fremont Point Cabin served the area as a popular Forest Service rental since the early 1990s until it was destroyed in the Winter Fire (2002). First constructed as a residence for the now-decommissioned fire lookout tower (Figure 1), the cabin had stood on the edge of Winter Rim, at an elevation of 7,135 feet, since the 1930s. Currently, only scattered remnants of the previously existing cabin and outhouse can be found at the cabin s original location. The fire tower and associated residence cabin were decommissioned from use as a fire lookout in the 1980s. The cabin was then refurbished and re-opened in the 1990s as a recreation rental for the Figure 1. Former Fremont Point fire lookout tower. public. Fremont Point Cabin became the most popular recreation rental (booked for reservations for more than 300 days each year) of the Fremont-Winema National Forests, even though access in the winter was only by snowshoe, crosscountry ski, or snowmobile for over 10 miles from Highway 31 (Figure 2). Figure 2. Fremont Point Cabin in the winter. Fremont Point still has a developed recreational day-use area with a picnic table and outhouse located approximately 300 feet from the cabin s former location. The day-use site is still popular for day visits and dispersed camping, and is accessible by a portion of the Southern Oregon

2 Intertie Trail, which connects to the Fremont National Recreational Trail (NRT) that runs along Winter Rim. A historical marker (Figure 3) is located between the day-use area and former cabin location commemorating John C. Fremont, namesake of Fremont Point, and his U.S. Topographical Corps crew, who were in the area in December 1843 while conducting surveys of the area. Overview of Project Area The project area includes approximately 5 acres of Winter Rim on the Silver Lake Ranger Figure 3. Historical marker at Fremont Point. District, in Lake County, Oregon. It includes the site of the original Fremont-Point Cabin that was burned in the Winter Fire, and a location for a new, overflow cabin further north on Winter Rim. The project area is located at the following legal description: 31S R16E Sec. 21 SW1/4SW1/4 (Fremont Point cabin) and T31S R16E Sec. 8 SW1/4NE1/2 (overflow cabin). The proposed location for the reconstruction of the original cabin is within a burn area that was salvage harvested four years ago. Naturally-occurring lodgepole pine regeneration is visible on the site. The site has also been planted twice since harvest with ponderosa pine. The location is within the Fremont Pasture of the Winter Rim Allotment. The proposed location for the overflow cabin site consists of widely-spaced, mature ponderosa pine with open grassy areas on the rim edge (Figure 4). The location is within the Bagley Pasture of the Winter Rim Allotment. Both locations are currently accessible by both motorized access (roads) and trail access (hiking/skiing/snowmobiling) from the north and south of the locations. Need for Action There is a need to provide renewed recreational experiences for the public through the use of a rustic destination for overnight stays in an area where it had previously existed. There is also a Figure 4. Proposed overflow cabin location. need to review the area for possible expansion of the cabin size and an overflow cabin location to accommodate the high use demand for the site. Fremont Point Cabin Reconstruction and Expansion Project EA 2

3 The Fremont National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) identifies goals, objectives and guidelines for both resource areas and Management Areas (MAs). Both cabin locations are located within MA 6b Scenic Viewshed, Partial Retention. Specific to this project, the Forest Plan gives recreation management goals of providing developed recreation opportunities in natural settings, to provide a variety of recreational opportunities within all levels of the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS), and to meet goals and objectives of the National Recreation Strategy (Forest Plan, Forest Management Goals, p. 50). Additional Forest Plan standards and guidelines for MA 6b state that all management activities should be noticeable, but subordinate to the landscape (Forest Plan, MA 6b, p. 154). While construction of the cabin at either location would be designed to appear as natural as possible (i.e., log cabin, neutral paints or stains), construction of a cabin in this MA would require an amendment to the Forest Plan to allow construction at either site. Proposed Actions The project proposes to reconstruct a cabin in the same location as the previous cabin s location at Fremont Point on the Winter Rim. The cabin would be built to accommodate up to 4 people and would be approximately 16 feet by 24 feet. An 8 by 8 foot outhouse would also be constructed near the cabin to replace the one destroyed in the fire. The cabin and outhouse would be constructed in the Summer of Review of space for an overflow cabin is also proposed through this project. The overflow cabin would be approximately 14 feet by 20 feet and would be located on the edge of Winter Rim, north of Fremont Point. This overflow cabin would also have an 8 by 8 outhouse. Construction of the overflow facility would be done as funding and supplies became available, and would not likely occur until several years after Fremont Point Cabin s reconstruction. The cabin, outhouses, and overflow cabin would be constructed by hand, combining efforts of Forest Service employees and members of the public who could volunteer time and supplies. No ground-disturbing machinery would be needed for construction. Supplies would be transported to the site using a standard-sized truck, travelling on existing, open roads. Access to the Fremont Point Cabin would be the same as it had been prior to the cabin s destruction. Motorized access would traverse Forest Road (FR) 2901 to FR -034 when weather permits; the site can also be reached by hiking the Southern Oregon Intertie Trail to the Fremont NRT or snowmobile or cross-country skiing the roads in the winter. Access to the overflow cabin location would also provide motorized or trail opportunities. Motorized access would traverse FR 2901 to FR -185 from the north and travel south along the rim edge to the site location. FR -196 also connects FR 2901 to FR -185 and would provide an alternate motorized route to the cabin. The site would also be accessible from the Southern Oregon Intertie Trail and Fremont NRT. Fremont Point Cabin Reconstruction and Expansion Project EA 3

4 Fremont Point Cabin would be rebuilt within one year following the completion of the environmental analysis s decision. The overflow cabin would be built as funding became available. Analysis of the project area at the overflow cabin location would be done knowing that immediate implementation was not planned, but with timelines in place to consider effects to each resource. This project also proposes a site-specific Forest Plan Amendment to allow reconstruction of the Fremont Point Cabin and potential future construction of an overflow cabin along Winter Rim in MA 6b. Public Involvement Comments should be specific to the actions proposed within the Fremont Point Cabin Reconstruction and Expansion Project. Comments will aid in the identification of any issues and subsequent development of alternatives under the process outlined in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Based on your comments, the project Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) will perform an analysis of this proposed action, along with any additional alternatives, and the results will be documented in an Environmental Assessment. The decision is expected in the Spring of 2010 and will determine whether or not to conduct the activities described here, and in what manner. More information on commenting procedures is in the cover letter of this document. For further information, or to inform us of your interest in volunteering to assist with the construction of Fremont Point Cabin, contact Tim Stack, Project Team Leader, at the Silver Lake Ranger District (65600 Highway 31, Silver Lake, OR 97638; telephone: (541) ; tstack@fs.fed.us), or Panchita Paulete, Project NEPA Support, at the Silver Lake Ranger District (65600 Highway 31, Silver Lake, OR 97638; telephone: (541) ; fpaulete@fs.fed.us). Direction for Implementation of All Proposed Actions In addition to the proposals discussed, the IDT will provide direction for how implementation of proposed actions would be conducted. These measures, called project design criteria, would be developed to address any potential resource concerns that may result from implementation of the proposed actions. Anticipating the need for these measures during the project planning phase assists the Forests with ensuring that the applicable management direction of the Forest Plan is followed for all actions proposed. Decision to be Made Based on Forest Plan goals, objectives, standards and management practices, together with public issues and concerns and management opportunities, the IDT will consider the affected area, formulate alternatives, develop design criteria, estimate environmental consequences and compare the alternatives. The environmental analysis of the project area will be documented to disclose the effects and consequences of alternative strategies being considered in detail and aid the Deciding Official in determining whether or not an Environmental Impact Statement should be prepared. Fremont Point Cabin Reconstruction and Expansion Project EA 4

5 The Deciding Official for this project is the Silver Lake District Ranger. The District Ranger may decide to select a no action alternative, defer activities, or may select a management alternative or portions of alternatives to implement. Specifically, the Deciding Official will determine: 1. Selection and site-specific location of actions proposed, if any. Included in this decision would be authorization for construction of one or both cabins, any modifications made to the proposed action based on comments received, and mitigation measures and design criteria. 2. Determination of whether or not to authorize a Forest Plan amendment to allow construction of one or both cabins in MA 6b. Fremont Point Cabin Reconstruction and Expansion Project EA 5

6 Fremont Point Cabin Reconstruction 7 8 and Expansion Project Proposed Action Map Silver Lake 35 Ranger District ! S o. Proposed Overflow Cabin Location uthern Oregon Intertie Trail - Fremont North Country Trail "/ Proposed Fremont Point Cabin Location Paisley Ranger District This product is reproduced from information prepared by the USDA Forest Service of from other suppliers. The Forest Service cannot "/ Proposed Fremont Point Cabin Location assure the reliability or suitability of this information for a particular purpose. The data and product accuracy may vary due to!. Proposed Overflow Cabin Location compilation from various sources, including modeling and interpretation, and may not meet National Map Accuracy 10 Trails Standards. 7 This information 8 may be updated, 9 corrected or 10 otherwise 11 modified without notification. For more information contact: Roads Fremont-Winema Supervisor s Office at The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Lakes National Forest System 16 Land Sections 28 ±13 Compiled by the Fremont-Winema NFs on 10/16/2009 using the 18 most current and complete 17 GIS data available. 16 The GIS data 15 displayed is intended for this project. Using the data other than for what it was created may yield inaccurate or misleading results. 14 Summer Lake Miles S:\slv\project\ea\2009_fremont_cabin_ea\gis\map_products\ _fremontcabin_scoping.mxd

PURPOSE AND NEED. Introduction

PURPOSE AND NEED. Introduction Public Scoping: Allocation of Recreation Capacity for Commercial Outfitter Guide Services on North Kruzof Island Trails (Kruzof Island Outfitter Guide) PURPOSE AND NEED Introduction The U.S. Department