Deer Creek Recreation Report Prepared by: Pat Hart Forestry Technician for: Bonners Ferry Ranger District Idaho Panhandle National Forest Date: January 28, 2015
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Table of Contents Introduction... 1 Overview of Issues Addressed... 2 Issue Indicators... 2 Affected Environment... 3 Developed sites... 3 Meadow Creek Campground:... 3 Solomon Lake... 3 Perkins Lake... 4 Keno Drainage... 4 Trails... 4 Dispersed recreation... 5 Desired Condition... 6 General... 7 Specific Desired Recreation Goals:... 7 Environmental Consequences... 9 Alternative 1 No Action... 9 Effects Common to all action alternatives... 9 1. Recreational Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)... 9 2. Forest Plan... 10 3. Current and Desired Future Condition... 10 Alternative 2-Proposed Action... 11 Design Features and Mitigation Measures... 11 Trail Maintenance and protection-... 11 Dispersed Sites-... 12 i
Introduction Lands within the Deer Creek project area provide important recreation destination opportunities as well as access to popular recreation features outside the planning area. These lands have a long history of motorized and non-motorized recreational use. Historic use is year-round. The quality of road access to recreation features is some of the highest on the District. Developed recreation facilities include trails, dispersed camping sites, developed picnic and day use sites, lake and creek side camping opportunities and fully accessible Meadow Creek Campground. In addition, there is ample opportunity for future recreation site development. Lands are generally natural forest settings overlooking rural and pastoral landscapes. This area lies within an half an hour of Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Local and non-local residents seek these lands equally. Recreation areas are easily accessed via US Highway 2 to well-maintained Forest system roads. County Road #34 (the northwest portion of the planning area) is a recognized scenic drive, as well as part of the District Watchable Wildlife route. Old Highway #2 in the southeastern part of the planning area connects residences as well as recreational sites in both Idaho and Montana. District recreational use has substantially increased in the last 25 years. There is greater demand for recreational facilities than ever before. Lands in the Purcell Mountains play a very important part in the recreation opportunities provided on the Bonners Ferry Ranger District. The Deer Creek planning area offers one of the widest ranges of motorized and non-motorized opportunities on the Bonners Ferry Ranger District. Large tracts of land are open to summer and winter motorized use. These lands are unique and important in that motorized use is restricted in most other parts of the District. Recreationists can enjoy car camping, road ATV use and snowmobiling within the Deer Creek area. Roads traversing the planning area provide access to motorcycle trails to the north. On the other hand, there are also large un-roaded expanses that offer much more primitive recreation. Mountain biking has burgeoned and traditional uses such as horseback riding, hiking, camping, fishing and berry picking have increased steadily for years. This range of opportunity that includes easy access to recreation facilities, motorized use, primitive landscapes, rivers, creeks and lakes is unusual and valuable. Recreational use within the analysis area is moderate to high. The highest seasons of use are spring through fall yet the Deer Creek road (#435) is one of three designated grooming routes for snowmobiling on the District. The generally lower elevations allow for a longer season of use than other mountain ranges on the District. Physically, landforms vary from forested side slopes to pastoral farmlands, low elevation lakes and fens, with the dramatic Moyie River slicing the planning area in two. The old town site of Meadow Creek, the defunct Eileen dam, and old cedar mill operations near Goat Mountain add historic interest within the analysis area. Peaks at the edge and within the analysis area range in elevations of 4300 to 6645. Goat Mountain offers striking 360 degree long range views and lies within the Buckhorn Inventoried Roadless lands. The remainder of the analysis area is generally natural appearing, yet evidence of human activities such as road ways, timber harvest, lookout towers, etc. is consistent throughout. 1
Overview of Issues Addressed Issue Indicators The effects of management activity in the Deer Creek project on developed and undeveloped recreational opportunities will be measured in changes to the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, compliance with the Forest Plan, and the degree to which the activities compliment or conflict with recreation desired future condition for sites and experiences. Those indicators are described as follows: A. Recreation Opportunity Spectrum The Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) is a system for defining the types of outdoor recreation opportunities the public might desire as well as identifying the portion of opportunities a given area provides. It is used for planning and managing the recreation resource and recognizes recreation activity, setting and experience opportunities. The summer season ROS classes within the analysis area include Rural, Roaded Natural, Roaded Modified and Semi Primitive Non-Motorized. The characteristics of the landscape change seasonally with ROS classes generally reflecting more semi-primitive characteristics during the winter. Winter changes the recreation environment from a motorized, roaded experience to a more non-motorized experience. Snow softens the physical edges of human activity and disturbance, reduces the social interaction and muffles sound. A greater portion of the planning area changes to a Semi Primitive Motorized and Non- Motorized setting during the winter. Semi Primitive Non-Motorized lands are characterized as lands that may have subtle modifications, which would be noticed, but would not draw the attention of an observer wandering through the area. The sight and sound of human activity other than the immediate visitor, is distant and structures are rare. In this analysis area, summer season semi-primitive nonmotorized lands are generally within the Buckhorn Roadless area. Social encounters are low and the recreational activities are associated with trail use, berry picking, and hunting. In winter much more of the planning area would be considered semi-primitive, non-motorized. Semi-Primitive Motorized lands are lands described the same as non-motorized semi primitive lands but motorized use is allowed along designated routes or areas. In this analysis area, there are no summer season semi-primitive motorized lands. During the winter season semi-primitive motorized lands follow groomed or un-groomed road routes available for snowmobile use. Winter social encounters are generally low yet it is typical that recreationists travel in groups rather than solo. Roaded Natural lands are generally characterized as natural settings that may have modifications that range from being easily noticeable to strongly dominant to observers in the area. Structures may include power lines, microwave installations and so on. Campgrounds, picnic areas and other designed recreational features are appropriate. Alterations and structures are unnoticed and visually subordinate from sensitive travel routes. Access via designed roads and highways is the norm. The density of recreational use in this planning area is moderate to high. Roaded Modified Non-Motorized lands are a subclass of setting features within the Roaded Natural class. This subclass occurs where current or past human modification is locally dominant or co-dominant with a natural appearing landscape. There may be numerous roads in the area yet 2
there is a sense of remoteness due to motorized closures. The density of recreational use is often very low. Camping is not confined to developed campsites. Rural lands are natural settings that have been culturally modified to the point that the modifications are dominant to the sensitive observer. These lands may include pastoral, agricultural, intensively managed wildland landscapes or utility corridors. Full access is appropriate. Perkins lake area offers a rural setting. B. Forest Plan Standards Backcountry General Forest Roadless C. Comparison to Desired future Condition Please see desired Condition section. Affected Environment Developed sites Meadow Creek Campground: Meadow Creek campground lies in a wooded setting adjacent to the Moyie River. It is the District s largest campground, offering two driving loops with 22 sites and a host site, a large day use picnic area, full accessibility on most sites, potable water and toilet facilities. Although the campground was originally designed in the late 1950 s it has been refurbished several times and accommodates longer modern recreational vehicles. Campground trails link camping sites with the river, and include a river walk as well as a gentle walk to a scenic overlook. Meadow Creek campground is located approximately 15 miles north of Bonners Ferry, ¼ mile off of County Road 36. The campground has always been very popular with local recreationists, but in recent years use has expanded to include the rafting community and a large percentage of out of State visitors. Two rafting companies share the river as well as many individual white water enthusiasts. Meadow Creek campground is also a popular pull-in and picnic area along the water route. Solomon Lake Solomon Lake is a long narrow mid-elevation lake situated in a rock notch between steep sidehills. The lake is scenic and offers good rainbow and cutthroat fishing, but has pinched access. Three unattractive campsites surround a vault toilet near the head of the lake. It is impossible to approach the lake without traversing existing campsites. Parking is limited and unorganized. The water level at Solomon Lake tends to fluctuate often making the banks muddy and unapproachable. When the water level is low, it is not uncommon for visitors to drive into the mudflats. Despite Solomon Lake s drawbacks, the lake is locally popular and has a long season of use. It lies within one of the most popular huckleberry picking corridors in Boundary County and is very 3
close to the Montana Line Trail #44, (Goat Mountain) trailhead. Solomon Lake is approximately 15 miles from Bonners Ferry, accessed via Highway 2, County roads, and a well maintained Forest Service road. Perkins Lake Perkins Lake is a unique stream fed 50 acre lake in a beautiful setting. Goat Mountain may be viewed to the northeast. The lakes weedy northwest side contrasts dramatically with the abrupt steep lake edge to the southwest. Perkins Lake is surrounded by a diversity of peatland (fen) communities and extensive floating vegetation mats. The lake contains some of the highest diversity of aquatic plant communities in Idaho. It is very typical to see a variety of waterfowl as well as moose, beaver and deer. The recreation site is accessed on the north side of the lake by County Road 73. Amenities include 2 picnic sites overlooking the lake, one easy-access picnic site adjacent to the road, a 280 boardwalk through the wetlands to open water, a short dock and boat launch to the northwest and a vault toilet. Perkins Lake offers full range accessibility. Keno Drainage A portion of the Keno Drainage is included in the northeastern part of the planning area. The developed facility within the boundary of the planning area is a vault toilet located near the junction of Deer Creek road (FS#435) and Keno Creek Road (FS#316). The toilet, its associated campsites and a well-developed trailhead are just outside the area boundary to the north. Campsites to the south of Keno creek, and within the planning area boundary, are associated with and a result of the activities to the north. It is difficult to describe the cluster of dispersed camping sites south of Keno creek without mentioning the activities on the north side of the creek. Keno drainage is remarkably important both to the general recreating public and to the Kootenai tribes of Idaho and Montana. The Idaho Kootenai tribe has camped and picked huckleberries in the Keno drainage for generations. In honor of this traditional use, 6 campsites have been designated on the north side of the creek (outside the planning area) to allow summer long camping for tribal members. A trailhead was developed 2 miles up the Keno creek road to help protect the lower sites for tribal members. As numbers of recreationists have increased, many campers (tribal and non-tribal) have developed campsites along Deer Creek and to the south of Keno creek. It is unrestricted and unplanned development. Resource damage and trash are typical. Off-road motorized use is typical. As campers seek isolation or less damaged campsites, they randomly develop additional sites. Trails Montana Line Trail #44 (Goat Mountain): Montana Line trail is a dramatically beautiful, 20 mile long, high elevation ridge trail. More than half the trail is above timberline affording magnificent views of not only the Purcell Range, but of the nearby Selkirk and the Cabinet mountain ranges as well. The trail accesses more than seven mountain peaks. A large portion of it traverses the Buckhorn Roadless area. (IRA#661) Montana Line Trail overlooks rugged and remote landscapes. It is situated such that evidence of man is distant, minimal and non-intrusive. There are connecting trails to Trail #44 from both Idaho and Montana. Some or all of Trail #44 may be considered a potential alternate route for the Congressional designated Pacific Northwest 4
Trail. Historically the trail was proposed as a National Scenic Recreation trail. (It was not designated) The southernmost trailhead is within the planning area, adjacent to Skin Creek. More than half the total trail mileage is either within the planning area or acts as the boundary for the planning area. The trail is open to all non-motorized uses. Traditionally it was enjoyed primarily by hikers, horse riders and hunters. (Outfitters from both Montana and Idaho have been permitted along this trail network.) It is a high use, highly favored, huckleberry picking path. Traditional uses are still common but mountain biking has almost surpassed all other uses combined. The southern trailhead at Skin Creek opens as early as April or May. Most of the trail is fully open by late June. The use season generally extends into November. Meadow Creek Campground trails This is a gentle trail system with Meadow Creek Campground as the network hub. Trails circumnavigate the campground along the Moyie River offering fishing and swimming opportunities. The trail climbs above the river to the southwest of the campground to an overlook and bench. It crosses the campground road and continues along a forested flat overlooking the river, past another view point and bench. It terminates on the Moyie River road. The trail is approximately one mile in length. This is not a destination trail but one that augments the camping experience at Meadow Creek Campground. There has been low, yet consistent, mountain bike use from the Moyie River road terminus. In general it is used by campers in the area. Dispersed recreation Dispersed camping opportunities are good throughout the planning area but are exceptional from the Moyie River to the east. Sites along the Moyie River are used by the rafting community as well as recreationists who access the river by vehicle. Many dispersed sites have such a long history of use and are so popular that they have locally designated names and can be specifically discussed. Most of these popular sites are accessed by non-system and often dangerous roads. From the Moyie River Road (FS211) there are several sites, two of which are very popular. The northernmost site is an attractive campsite on a small peninsula on the Moyie River. The road is steep with poor visibility. The second popular site is just above Eileen dam. The access road is moderate with the exception of a single steep rocky pitch. The campsites above Eileen dam are used frequently. Visitors have created steep trails on exceptionally unstable slopes to access the old dam. Further south on the river a site know as Bare Ass Beach (BAB) is accessed through the City of Bonners Ferry managed lands. The road becomes Forest Service at the property boundary. Records from the 1990 s indicate that there has not been maintenance on the road since the turn of the century. In 1990, several projects were listed in the Capitol Investment program to develop a raft take-out and picnic area at BAB. In 1999 a Recreation Plan was developed as part of the Moyie River Hydroelectric reauthorization. In the Recreation plan, the City chose to develop rafting facilities prior to Forest Service managed lands. At the same time they installed a gate to be open from Memorial Day until September 30. (The intent was to protect the road and beach resource during unmonitored seasons.) The gate schedule is not currently being met. Use at BAB is consistent and heavy throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons. Use is occasional 5
and generally non-motorized throughout the winter season. Visitors have re-opened a road above the river to access two additional campsites. A user-developed ATV trail connects the road to the railroad tracks. Other popular sites along the Moyie River are accessed via County Road 34, Forest Service Road 2533, and Forest Service road 2584. The campsites attainable from road 2584 are located on a large flat directly across the river from BAB. During the Hydroelectric dam re-licensing, the Forest Service indicated that they would try to leave public access open along Road 2584. Maintained road systems near Deer and Keno creeks offer easy access to dispersed sites. Most open roads in the area have user-developed campsites along or just outside the road prisms. Usercreated non-system roads to favorite campsites are common as well. Campsites are located near trail crossings, streams, huckleberry fields or favorite hunting spots. Dispersed camping near the junction of FS road #435 (Deer Creek) and FS road #316 (Keno Creek) is congested enough to be out of character with the surrounding landscape. In general though, throughout the planning area, the overall feeling at most campsites is one of natural or manmade openings within a wooded setting. For the most part, rural human development seems remote. Generally sites have one, if not more, campfire rings in addition to a variety of shelter poles, shelves, and seats constructed with native materials. Trash and firewood debris are typical. Use varies throughout the season. It would be rare that all dispersed sites are filled at any one time. There is a substantial, site-specific increase in use during the huckleberry season and steady use throughout fall hunting seasons. Day use along the open roads is moderate throughout most of the analysis area. Site specific use along the Meadow Creek Road (County Road 34), Deer Creek road (FS Road #435), and on the Old Highway (Highway #2) towards Perkins Lake is heavier and more consistent than in other parts of the planning area. Both the Meadow Creek road and the Deer creek road form portions of driving loops that encourages driving for pleasure. Gathering forest products such as berries, Christmas trees, firewood, and mushrooms, is a popular recreational pursuit within the analysis area. Winter over-snow use is generally limited to road riding and use is moderate. There are no notable winter play areas within the planning area except for the Deer creek road (#435) which traverses the planning area and accesses higher elevation open ground beyond the planning area. Deer Creek road is one of the three roads on the District slated for snow grooming each year. Winter non-motorized use is light and comprised primarily of local enthusiasts. Desired Condition The desired future condition for recreation has been developed over time through Forest-wide and local recreation niche, accessibility, and tourism planning. For the Deer Creek area, open Forest roads and trails in the area would be well maintained, open to the public, meet accessible requirements as possible, and would provide safe access for the general public. Improvements would be made to accommodate current use as well as expected increased future use. All improvements would be made with the intent of retaining a balance of rustic/natural landscapes and man-made environments. There would be an equal probability of experiencing sights and sounds of other user groups and for isolation from sights and sounds of humans. In general, the visitor could expect a feeling of closeness to nature, opportunities 6
associated with primitive recreation, and tranquility. Visitors would need a degree of woodsman and outdoor skills in an environment that offers some risk. General Landscapes would retain a diversity of plant communities and recreational opportunities. Low elevation lakes and fens, pastoral farmlands and forested side slopes would fuse easily with both natural and manmade openings. Views from trails, roads and recreation sites would have a range of modifications that would resemble landscape burn patterns and tend to be harmonious or blend with geological features. Recreational use will increase on trails and at both developed and dispersed sites. Typical recreation tools such as restriction, permitting, site hardening, site rehabilitation and others will be considered to allow maximum recreational use while protecting the lands within the planning area. Those actions will be considered in another document. A blend of open roads and open trails would allow access throughout the project area. Trail #44 and trails around Meadow Creek campgrounds would remain open to non-motorized uses. Winter trails would remain open for grooming, and a winter trailhead would be developed a long Road 435 just as it enters National Forest Lands. (Section 19) Trails, developed sites, and dispersed sites would be accessed via safe and well maintained roads. Sites would be as fully accessible as possible within landscape parameters. Sites would be adequate for a full range of recreational opportunities including camping, biking, hunting, gathering berries and other Forest products, fishing, driving for pleasure etc. Specific Desired Recreation Goals: Developed Recreation Meadow Creek Campground Meadow Creek would retain its forested setting and accommodate the types of use it currently receives (camping, gathering, rafting, river access, etc.) There would likely be an increase from current use. Facilities would be well maintained and fully-accessible as possible but would continue to be rustic in nature. Trails associated with the campground would be well maintained and developed as possible for full accessibility. Solomon Lake Solomon Lake Campground would be reorganized from its current blueprint such that camping sites would be provided on a camping loop away from the lake edge and boat launch road. Two overnight camping sites would be provided as well as parking for 2-3 day use visitors and space to park a small boat trailer. Large areas near the lake and to the northeast of the access road would be rehabilitated. Camping and parking would not be allowed on the lake edge. The existing toilet would be refurbished and would remain at its current location. Short access trails would be developed from the overnight camp sites. Perkins Lake The Perkins Lake recreation design is dependent upon the layout of the county road. Should the county road stay in its current location, Perkins Lake facilities would remain very similar to what they are today. The floating dock would be well maintained and safe for a wide variety of visitors, 7
the boat launch area would be similar to current conditions, and the three picnic sites would remain open and well maintained. The existing toilet would be refurbished and would remain in its current location. Keno Drainage The future of the Keno drainage campsites will be addressed in another document. Trails Montana Line Trail #44 (Goat Mountain) Montana Line Trail would retain its isolated and primitive setting. Views from the trail would be unmarred by human caused changes to the landscape that deviate from natural appearing panoramas. Trail #44 would remain open to all non-motorized uses. The trail would be well maintained and safe for experienced backcountry enthusiasts. Meadow Creek Campground Trails The existing Meadow Creek trail system would be augmented with an additional half mile of trail that would create a loop to the existing overview trail, and a one mile spur trail to the west of the campground that would be suitable for easy walking or mountain biking. Both additions would enhance the family orientation of the campgrounds by providing near-by, safe, terrestrial activities for a variety of ages and experience levels. Campground trails would remain non-motorized. Dispersed Sites: Dispersed recreation sites within the Deer Creek planning area are generally complex and developed enough that a full discussion of future management actions and site descriptions is beyond the scope of this document. In general though, throughout the planning area, the overall feeling at most campsites would remain one of natural or manmade openings within a wooded setting. For the most part, rural human development would seem remote. A number of dispersed sites would remain available at any one time. Site-specific increases in use during the huckleberry season and steady use throughout fall hunting seasons would remain typical. Sites would be clean and located appropriately with regards to water features. Road access to dispersed sites would be safe and maintained. As recreational populations increase, day use along open roads would tend upwards of moderate throughout much of the analysis area. Site specific use along the Meadow Creek Road (County Road 34), Deer Creek road (FS Road #435), and on the Old Highway (Highway #2) Perkins Lake would remain heavier and more constant than in other parts of the planning area. Gathering forest products such as berries, Christmas trees, firewood, and mushrooms, would remain popular recreational pursuits within the analysis area. Winter motorized over-snow use would remain generally limited to road riding. Use would tend upwards of moderate. Deer Creek road would remain available for snow grooming. A winter use only trailhead, located along Road #435, would provide parking for 10 to 15 vehicles for winter recreational pursuits. Winter non-motorized use would remain light. 8
Environmental Consequences Alternative 1 No Action Alternative 1 would have no direct, indirect, or cumulative effects to recreation related resources. Existing recreation opportunities would not change. Recreation activities such as driving for pleasure, hunting, camping, hiking, gathering forest products including berries, firewood, mushrooms, etc. would continue. Public access would not change. ROS classes would not change. Effects Common to all action alternatives 1. Recreational Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) No action alternative would permanently change the current Recreation Opportunity Spectrum within the planning area. Developed sites within the area would experience social modifications due to increased traffic and activity. Contacts and encounters would likely increase for the duration of the planned activities, yet encounters would generally increase primarily on access roads to developed sites. With the exception of Solomon Lake campground, activities would appear remote and non-intrusive. At Solomon Lake, for all alternatives, traffic would increase substantially, and sights and sounds of planned activities would be very apparent. Trail #44 would retain its near Primitive status in the long range. Planned fuels activities would appear natural and would be in concert with the existing landscape. Helicopter use would temporarily reduce the feeling of remoteness and solitude associated with Primitive and semi- Primitive settings. Upon completion of the work, the setting will return to the Semi Primitive Non-Motorized condition it now exhibits. Activities may be seen in long range views from Trail #44, (to the southwest) but they would be entirely consistent with Rural Recreational Opportunity Spectrum landscape. Trails near the Meadow Creek campground would not be adversely affected during planned activities. Additional trail segments would complement existing Meadow Creek trails and are in keeping with the Roaded Natural ROS experience. Most dispersed sites would be unfavorably affected for the duration of the planned activities due to increased traffic, road dust, and noise. Sights and sounds of work activities in addition to truck traffic may disturb the generally quiet and remote character of the lands in the planning area. Dispersed camping sites may not be as available as is typical. Some camp sites are actually located within cutting unit boundaries. (Units 14, 24, 2, and 64, and the pit development site are examples.) None of the planned activities change the permanent ROS characteristics of the sites. Action alternatives in this project would create modifications that are readily noticeable from many major travel routes. Harvest activities would not introduce unexpected or inharmonious results. No treatment of the road transportation system in any alternative conflicts with the ROS classification. No proposed road action changes the ROS setting to either a more developed level or to a more Primitive level. All treatment activities and outcomes would be appropriate in the Rural, Roaded Natural and Roaded Modified ROS environments. Roadside activities such as berry picking and firewood gathering may be interrupted temporarily. 9
The social experience for any action alternative would likely return to present condition after project activities are complete. Due to the type and amount of recreation that occurs during the winter season, winter harvest activities would change the social recreational settings for very few visitors. The social setting, for winter, would return to its current characteristic at the end of project activities. 2. Forest Plan All proposed activities meet Forest Plan standards for recreation. 3. Current and Desired Future Condition Developed Sites Meadow Creek Campground Proposed Meadow Creek Campground trail segment construction is included in each action alternative. These trail segments will augment the recreational experience associated with the campground. Each alternative supports the desired future condition for Meadow Creek campground. Solomon Lake Each action alternative supports re-design and development of the Solomon Lake camping and boat launch area. Each alternative supports the desired future condition for Solomon Lake. Perkins Lake There are no proposed changes for the Perkins Lake site in any alternative. Planned activities in proximity to the lake are the same in each alternative. Planned activities will have no direct affect to Perkins in any alternative. Keno Drainage Please see Dispersed Sites for discussion. Trails Montana Line Trail #44 and the Meadow Creek trail system would be retained in all action alternatives. Trail mileage would not be diminished. Trail segments would be added to Meadow Creek. Trails would remain non-motorized in all alternatives. All alternatives support trails desired future conditions. All action alternatives propose a wildlife burn that covers the Montana Line trail between Goat Mountain and Line Point. (T63N, R2E, sections 27 and 34) The trail is likely to be obscured. That section of trail could be lost without after action corrective measures. (See mitigation measures) All action alternatives support retaining Trail #44. The existing type of trail use would remain as it is presently. Trail recreational experiences would be would remain very similar to what they are currently. Dispersed recreation 1. In general, dispersed site management and needs are not addressed in any alternative. Site and use concerns are not part of the purpose and need for the Deer Creek project. 10
2. Each of the action alternatives includes washout repair on Road #2533. That allows a return of several popular dispersed sites on the Moyie River. Several other roads would be added to the system and left open. (No planned repair at this time) Those roads also access sites along the river. 3. Generally, roads and roadside activities would be affected only on a temporary basis. Recreational visitors could expect short delays or increased traffic along haul routes. Several roadside campsites may be inaccessible during the life of the project activities. Some sites may be eliminated or changed due to proposed activities. Those sites are occasionally used, and are not the highly popular sites previously discussed. 4. The new openings in the forest canopy could be beneficial to big game, which could bring more hunters into the area, especially along road corridors. An increase in huckleberries after timber harvest could also bring more commercial or recreational pickers into the area. These factors would likely lead to a small increase in dispersed camping and day use in the late summer and fall seasons. 5. There could be an increased opportunity for illegal cross-country motorized use after harvest particularly in the Solomon Lake area. Design features for dispersed sites would help prevent illegal cross-country motorized use. Alternative 2-Proposed Action Alternative 2 would create disturbance that the No action alternative does not create. The Proposed action would create new openings visible across the landscape and along travel ways. Alternative 2 would additionally allow new or revitalized recreational features within the planning area. Design Features and Mitigation Measures Developed Sites- (Meadow Creek Campground, Solomon Lake, Perkins Lake, Keno Drainage) 1. Meadow Creek Campground will be unaffected visually or with activities. No mitigation required. 2. Solomon Lake: Recreation site will be inundated with dust and traffic. No hauling on weekends and long weekends. Use dust abatement on road. Add roadside pullouts if possible prior to the lake. Sign roads extensively. 3. Perkins Lake will not be affected on-site. Access will be affected by hauling. No hauling on weekends and long weekends. Sign roads extensively. 4. Keno Drainage: Same as developed sites. 5. Provide project information at all developed sites. Trail Maintenance and protection- 1. Ridge top burn between Goat Mountain and Line Point: No slashing within 100 yards of the trail. 2. Do not use ATVs for access to burning activities. 3. Do not parallel trail with fireline or create fireline off switchbacks. 11
4. If the fire happens to burn across the trail, re-identify and reconstruct the trail tread. 5. Clearly sign trailheads at Canuck, Keno, Goat Mtn. and trailheads on the Kootenai before any burning activity. Notify outfitters. 6. Protect trailhead at Skin Creek (from harvest and burn activities) Do not use as a landing area, turnaround or site for equipment parking. 7. Retain roadless characteristics throughout Buckhorn area. 8. Meadow Creek trails: not affected by logging. 9. Should any of the work be done in winter maintain use the no haul on weekends protocol. Deer Creek road is an approved road for snow grooming. If Deer creek road is used to haul, coordinate with the groomers. (Rec. shop) If roads are being plowed, make sure to plow a turnaround where the plowing ends. Dispersed Sites- 1. Dispersed sites off of FS road 211: Primary impact would be thinning around Eileen dam access. Much of the area is flat. Thinning could create the opportunity for increased off road ATV and full size vehicle access. Signing is unlikely to help but should be put in place to keep motorized traffic on the primary access road. Private land should be clearly identified. If possible, thinning could be designed along the access road and the railroad to prevent motorized intrusion. That could include debris left in place, a slightly tighter forest along the road, (possibly clumps of trees left rather than consistent thinning). 2. FS road 211 has low use but is so narrow and deteriorated in places that work along the road could create risk to recreationists. Road work should include brushing for visibility, and turnout development or maintenance. 3. Sites identified for pit development are currently used as campsites. Sign several weeks before work begins so that recreationists avoid camping in those places. Direct, and Indirect Effects-Alternative 2 All direct and indirect results of alternative 2 have been identified in Effects Common to All Action Alternatives 12