Summit Healthy Forest Project

Transcription

1 Summit Healthy Forest Project Special Uses and Lands Report Prepared by: Artie Colson /s/ Artie Colson District Special Use Officer for: Kern River Ranger District Sequoia National Forest July, 2016

2 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C , or call (800) (voice) or (202) (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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4 Special Uses, Lands and Recreation Report, Summit CE 2016 Introduction Lands and Special Uses There are numerous recreation and lands special uses in the Summit Healthy Forest Project Area. These uses include recreation residences, a ski area, occasional recreation events, various outfitter guides, water systems, septic system, roads, powerlines, research monitoring, communication use leases, and apiary sites. These uses of public land and their associated activities are conducted under a special use permit (SUP) or communication use leases from the Forest Service. See Table 1 List of Special Uses in the Project Area at the end of this report. Affected Environment Existing Condition Recreational Residences There are 59 recreational residences (cabins) located in the following recreational residence tracts in the project area: Kern Park Tract (seven cabins); Shirley Meadow Tract (20 cabins); El Monte Tract (three cabins); Summit Tract (eight cabins); Weeping Springs Tract (2 cabins); and Slick Rock Tract (19 cabins). The cabin lots range in size from 0.13 to 0.85 acres. Improvements associated with the cabin lots include: electrical, telephone, and TV lines; native surface private and paved Forest Service roads; Spring developments, water lines, and water tanks (some on the surface and some buried); septic systems (holding tanks and septic tanks with leach lines);and miscellaneous other improvements (sheds and outdoor furniture). Ski Area The Alta Sierra Ski Area at Shirley Meadow covers approximately 69 acres. Permitted improvements include; two chair lifts; one tube tow; buildings (maintenance shed, caretakers mobile home; ticket booth; pump house; office; warming hut; ski patrol trailer; restroom building; 10,000 gallon water tank; two ski lift operator sheds; two generator buildings, 6,000,000 gallon pond for snow making with associated snowmaking hydrants and water lines. The paved parking area for the ski area is on Rancheria Road. Currently there are no non-winter operations at the ski area, but they plan on having meetings and other gatherings in the warming hut during summer months. Outfitter Guides/Recreation Events There are typically five recreation events per year that take place in the project area during between March and November. These events include: mountain bike races; running/walking events; and weddings. They take place on various roads, trails, and areas with good views. There are two hunting and two mountain bike/rock climbing/cross country skiing outfitters that operate in the project area guides that operate from March to November. Water Systems

5 There are numerous water system SUPs that include: spring boxes; above and below ground plastic and metal pipe (0.75 to 2.0 inch diameter); wood, plastic, and metal water tanks (100 to 100,000 gallons). Most of the water systems are associated with the five recreational residence tracts. Kern County Department of Parks and Recreation has a water system serving Camp Yenis Hante, Camp Kaweah, Greenhorn Mountain Park, the County and Forest Service Fire Stations, and the Summit Recreational Residence Tract. Associated with this water system is a horizontal well above FS Road 25S17 approximately 1.65 miles southwest of the Forest Service Fire Station with a 2.0 inch plastic water line buried below the road feeding the three water tanks above the Forest Service Fire Station. Kern County is scheduled to remove the non-operational metal waterline above FS Road 25S17. Alta Sierra and Sierra Bella Mutual Water s have water tanks above Lotus Lane that serve private property in the area. There are a total of three tanks (25,000 gallon horizontal tank with valve building surrounded by chain link fence, 96,000 gallon tank, 105,000 gallon tank with valve building), buried water lines, access road, and two gates. Liquid Waste There is one SUP for a liquid wastewater system located at Elm Drive west of Highway 155. The system is composed of a buried six foot by 8 foot septic tank along with approximately 50 feet of leach line. Roads There are short native surface SUP roads associated with the El Monte, Summit, Weeping Springs, and Slick Rock Recreational Residence Tracts. These roads are all gated and maintained by the permittees. Power Transmission SCE has a major transmission line (metal towers) that bisects the project area roughly following the same alignment as Highway 155 with a substation located at the Greenhorn Summit. In addition, there are distribution and power drop lines servicing all structures (private and Forest Service) in the area. Research Monitoring The USGS has resource monitoring equipment for the collecting seismic activity data relating to shifts in the Earth s crust located west of the junction of Highway 155 and Rancheria Road. The equipment includes a below ground monitor device and above ground telemetry antenna. Communication Sites There are five communication use leases on Shirley Peak. These sites contain buildings, lattice towers with satellite dishes and antennae, chain link fencing, ground and aerial cables, propane tanks, and access roads (one of which is gated). In addition, Verizon has a telephone line (1,412 feet with two poles and four drop lines) that services the Summit Recreational Residence Tract. 3

6 Special Uses, Lands and Recreation Report, Summit CE 2016 Apiary There is one apiary site located in a turnout on the west of FS Road 25S17 (Windy Gap) that is occasionally used approximately 1.5 mile south of the Forest Service Fire Station. Environmental Consequences Implementation of this project could result in damage from falling trees and skidding trees and disposal of slash. It is highly recommended that all improvements (especially spring developments, waterlines and tanks, septic systems, and distribution/drop lines be identified on the ground and mapped prior to starting any operation. Compliance with Forest Plan and Other Relevant Laws, Regulations, Policies and Plans The proposed project is consistent with the following laws, regulations, policies and plans governing recreation and lands special uses: Organic Administration Act of June 4, 1897: authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to issue rules and regulations for the occupancy and use of the National forests. Section 7 of the Granger-Thye Act of April 24, 1950: authorizes special use permits. Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of September 3, 1964, as amended: authorizes permits for recreation, such as group use activities, organized events, motorized recreational vehicle use and other specialized recreation activities of limited duration. Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of October 21, 1976: Title V authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to issue permits, leases, or easements to occupy, use or traverse NFS lands. Table 1 List of Special Uses in the Project Area PERMITTEE DESIGNATION LOCATION LEGAL DESCRIPTION Recreational Residence Russ & Mary Langwell El Monte #2 #2 El Monte Two Rd NE1/4,NE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Rebecca Riccomini El Monte #4 #4 El Monte Three Rd NE1/4,NE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Bryan & Rebecca Lynn El Monte #6 #6 El Monte One Rd NE1/4,NE1/4, Sec 29, T25S, R32E, MDBM R. M. McClung Kern Park #1 #10702 Ice House Rd SE1/4,NE1/4, Sec 29, T25S, R32E, MDBM Bruce D. McClung Bruce & Sylvia Heniger Kern Park #4 #10652 Ice House Rd SE1/4,NE1/4, Sec 29, T25S, R32E, MDBM Tami & Orran Tanner Kern Park #5 #10624 Ice House Rd SE1/4,NE1/4, Sec29, T25S, R32E, MDBM Joseph Mays Kern Park #6 #10608 Ice House Rd SE1/4,NE1/4, Sec 29, T25S, R32E, MDBM c/o Marie Swall Tim and Michelle Kern Park #7 #10590 Ice House Rd SE1/4,NE1/4, Sec 29, T25S, R32E, MDBM Graves Leigh Mosconi Kern Park #8 #10611 Ice House Rd SE1/4,NE1/4, Sec 29, T25S, R32E, MDBM Susan Babcock Kern Park #9 #10631 Ice House Rd SE1/4,NE1/4, Sec 29, T25S, R32E, MDBM Dwight & Laura Walsh Shirley Meadow #1 #9619 Shirley Meadows Rd SW1/4,NE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Brian Hawkins Shirley Meadow #2 #9603 Shirley Meadows Rd SW1/4,NE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM

7 William and Dawn Shirley Meadow #3 #9579 Shirley Meadows Rd SW1/4,NE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Morris Paul & Ann Stewart Shirley Meadow #5 #9541 Shirley Meadows Rd SE1/W,NE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Robert Long Shirley Meadow #6 #9525 Shirley Meadows Rd SW1/4,NE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM John/Michelle Haley Shirley Meadow #7 #9507 Shirely Meadows Rd SW1/4,NE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Deborah Holden Shirley Meadow #9 #9461 Shirley Meadows Rd SE1/4,NE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Russell & Mary Lou Shirley Meadow #10 #9455 Shirley Meadows Rd SE1/4,NE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Palmer Larry & Rosalie Smith Shirley Meadow #11 #9441 Shirley Meadows Rd NE1/4,SE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Stephen Watts Shirley Meadow #12 #9419 Shirley Meadows Rd NE1/4,SE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Elmo & Patricia Oxley Shirley Meadow #13 #9401 Shirley Meadows Rd NE1/4,SE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Dan Thomas Shirley Meadow #14 #9377 Shirley Meadows Rd NE1/4,SE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Christine Pellet Steven and Shirley Shirley Meadow #17 #9323 Shirley Meadows Rd NE1/4,SE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Amato Mary K. Shell Shirley Meadow #18 #9300 Shirley Meadows Rd NE1/4,SE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Rick & Valerie Parris Shirley Meadow #20 #9576 Shirley Meadows Rd SE1/4,NE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Leonard & Shirley Welte Shirley Meadow #23 #9514 Shirley Meadows Rd SE1/4,NE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Melvin & Rose Riley Shirley Meadow #24 #9476 Shirley Meadows Rd SE1/4,NE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Allen & Michelle Shirley Meadow #25 #9468 Shirley Meadows Rd SE1/4,NE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Lindfors Kevin Seymore Shirley Meadow #30 #9338 Shirley Meadows Rd NE1/4,SE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Geoffrey Hosking Shirley Meadow #31 #9326 Shirley Meadows Rd NE1/4,SE1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Phyllis Towery Slick Rock #1 #1 Slick Road Two Rd SW1/4,NW1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Craig and Cynthia Slick Rock #2 #2 Slick Rock Three Rd SW1/4,NW1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Ingalls Judith Kindig Slick Rock #3 #3 Slick Rock Three Rd SW1/4,NW1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Trustee of Fred Slick Rock #4 #4 Slick Rock Three Rd SW1/4,NW1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM H.Carlisle, Jr. Living Trust David & Judith Moore Slick Rock #5 #5 Slick Rock Four Rd SE1/4,NW1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Orville & Juanita Knight Slick Rock #7 #7 Slick Rock Four Rd SE1/4,NW1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Carolyn Hughes Slick Rock #8 #8 Slick Rock Four Rd SE1/4,NW1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Carol Gibbs (Burall) Slick Rock #9 #9 Slick Rock Four Rd NE1/4,NW1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Wallace & Janice Slick Rock #10 #10 Slick Rock Four Rd NE1/4,NW1/4, Sec 32, T25S, R32E, MDBM Houchin David B. Stinson Slick Rock #11 #11 Slick Rock Four Rd NE1/4,NW1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Geo. & Dell Louise Slick Rock #12 #12 Slick Rock Four Rd NE1/4,NW1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Marsh Yolanda and David Slick Rock #13 #13 Slick Rock Five Rd NE1/4,NW1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Arias Victoria Davis Slick Rock #14 #14 Slick Rock Five Rd NE1/4,NW1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Joseph & Alyssa Gilmer Slick Rock #15 #15 Slick Rock Six Rd NE1/4,NW1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM William Crammer Slick Rock #16 #16 Slick Rock Six Rd NE1/4,NW1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Timothy and Kim Slick Rock #17 #17 Slick Rock Six Rd SE1/4,NE1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Honeycut Thomas Osborne Slick Rock #18 #18 Slick Rock Three Rd NW1/4,NE1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Lane Wilburn Slick Rock #19 #19 Slick Rock One Rd SW1/4,NW1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Randal & Nancy Brock Slick Rock #21 #21 Slick Rock One Rd SW1/4,NW1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Eda Caetano Summit #1 #1 Summit Two Rd SW1/4,NE1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Marshall & Norma Finn Summit #2 #2 Summit Two Rd SW1/4,NE1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Diana McCombs Summit #3 #3 Summit Two Rd SW1/4,NE1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Morris & Carolyn Berens Summit #4 #4 Summit Two Rd SW1/4,NE1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Lillian Rae Trust Summit #5 #5 Summit Two Rd SW1/4,NE1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Johnny & JoAnn Means Summit #7 #7 Summit One Rd SW1/4,NE1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Victoria Whitford Summit #9 #9 Summit Two Rd SW1/4,NE1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM Milton & Marilyn Webster Summit #10 #10 Summit Two Rd SW1/4,NE1/4, Sec 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM 5

8 Special Uses, Lands and Recreation Report, Summit CE 2016 David & Lori Friday Darlene Kalan Weeping Springs #9445 Weeping Springs #9451 #9445 Hwy. 155 SE1/4,SW1/4, Sec 18, T25S, R32E, MDBM #9451 Hwy. 155 SE1/4,SW1/4, Sec 18, T25S, R32E, MDBM Ski Area Alta Sierra Ski Area Rancheria Road Rancheria Road Section 32, T.25S., R.32E., MDBM Recreation Events Potentially 5/year Mountain Biking/ Hiking/Running/ Dual Sport Motorcycle Various locations Entire Project Area Outfitter Guide Mike Berry Guide Service Neil Rae Giant Sequoia Guide Service Sierra South Mountain and River Adventures Hunting Various locations Entire Project Area Mountain Biking/Rock Climbing/Cross Country Skiing Mountain Biking/Rock Climbing/Cross Country Skiing Various locations FS Roads 25S15, 25S17, 25S21and various trails FS Roads 25S15, 25S17, 25S21and various trails Entire Project Area Entire Project Area Entire Project Area Water Systems Buckhorn Water System Slick Rock Tract Cabins 16 and 17 Section 20, T.25S., R.32E., MDBM El Monte Water System El Monte Tract Cabins 2 and 4 Section 32, T.25S., R.32E., MDBM Kern County Parks FS Road 25S17 Summit Tract, FS Fire Sections 20, 29, 32, T.25S., R.32E., MDBM Station, and Kern County Facilities Langwell Water System El Monte Tract Cabin 6 Section 32, T.25S., R.32E., MDBM Lower Shirley Meadow Shirley Meadow Cabins 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, Section 32, T.25S., R.32E., MDBM Water Tract 13, 14, 17, 18, 24, 25, 30, 31 Lower Slick Rock Water Slick Rock Tract Cabins 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 18, 19, Section 20, T.25S., R.32E., MDBM System 21 Slick Rock Water Slick Rock Tract Cabins 13, 14, 15, 16 Section 20, T25S, R32E, MDBM System Tiger Paw Water Slick Rock Tract Cabins 9, 10, 11 Section 20, T.25S., R.32E., MDBM System Upper Shirley Meadow Shirley Meadow Cabins 1, 2, 3, 5, 20, 23 Section 32, T.25S., R.32E., MDBM Water Tract Alta Sierra Mutual Water Above Highway Above Lotus Drive Section 21, T.25S., R.32E., MDBM Company Sierra Bella Mutual Water Company 155 Above Highway 155 Above Lotus Drive Section 21, T.25S., R.32E., MDBM Septic System Thomsen Septic System Encroachment Sierra Bella Tract Private Property Elm Drive SW1/4, Section 21, T21S, R32E,MDBM Roads Slick Rock Four Road Slick Rock One Road Slick Rock Tract Cabins 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Section 20, T.25S., R.32E., B Slick Rock Tract Cabins 19 & 21 Section 20, T.25S., R.32E., MDBM

9 Slick Rock Six Road Slick Rock Three Road Summit Road and Water System Weeping Spring Road Slick Rock Tract Cabins 15, 16, 17 Section 20, T.25S., R.32E., MDBM Slick Rock Tract Cabins 2, 3, 4, 18 Section 20, T.25S., R.32E., MDBM Summit Tract Summit One and Summit Two Roads Weeping Springs Tract Cabins 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10 Cabins 9445 & 9451 Section 20, T.25S., R.32E., MDBM Section 20, T.25S., R.32E., MDBM Powerlines SCE Metal Towers Highway 155 Corridor Bisects Project Area Resource Monitoring USGS Greenhorn Summit Jct. Hwy 155 and Rancheria Road Section 20, T. 25 S., R. 32 E., MDBM Communication Use Leases Alta Sierra Home GHN Shirley Peak Section 20, T. 25 S., R. 31 E., MDBM Owners American Tower GHN84 Shirley Peak Section 20, T. 25 S., R. 31 E., MDBM CHP GHN Shirley Peak Section 20, T. 25 S., R. 31 E., MDBM Kern County GHN Shirley Peak Section 20, T. 25 S., R. 31 E., MDBM SCE GHN Shirley Peak Section 20, T. 25 S., R. 31 E., MDBM Verizon GHN436 Summit Rec Tract Section 20, T. 25 S., R. 32 E., MDBM Apiary Sites Ceil Hanning Hives FS Road 25S17 SE 1/4, NW 1/4, SW 1/4, Section 29, T25S., R32E., MDBM 7