DRAFT Dorabelle Campground Rehabilitation September 2012
1.1 REGIONAL SETTING AND PROJECT LOCATION The Dorabelle Campground is located on the western shore of Shaver Lake in Fresno County, California (Section 25, Township T9S, Range R24E). The elevation of the campground ranges from approximately 5,375-5,500 feet above mean sea level (msl). The campground is located on property owned and managed by the USDA-FS- Sierra National Forest (SNF) and is accessed via Dorabelle Road, which is just off Highway 168. Figure 1 provides a map of the Project vicinity. According to the SNF Forest Land and Resource Management Plan the Project area is within Management Area 1 and Analysis Area 36, an area in which developed recreational opportunities such as public campgrounds are emphasized (USDA-FS 1991). Shaver Lake, a component of the Big Creek 2A, 8, and Eastwood Project (Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC) Project No. 67), is a man-made, high-elevation reservoir that stores water from backcountry lakes and diversions. Water from these sources are discharged through Eastwood Power station into Shaver Lake. Stevenson Creek and North Fork Stevenson Creek are the primary tributaries to Shaver Lake. Other smaller tributaries include Swanson and Azalea creeks, as well as several unnamed ephemeral creeks. Dorabelle Campground has an approximately 38-acre footprint, with 67 campsites, two host sites, and 16 restrooms, as shown in Figure 2. The overall condition and accessibility of the Dorabelle Campground facilities were evaluated as part of the Recreation Resources Analysis and Facility Inventory Assessment and Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Assessment technical studies conducted for the Big Creek ALP (SCE 2007c). 1.2 PROPOSED ACTION This section describes specific construction activities associated with the removal, replacement, and/or rehabilitation of existing Dorabelle Campground facilities, including campsites, parking areas, restroom facilities, trash enclosures, trails, signage, and forest health treatments. See Figure 3 for a site plan of the Proposed Action and Appendix A for photographs and schematics of proposed new facilities. During the construction period, existing campsites or other previously disturbed grounds within Dorabelle Campground would serve as staging areas for construction equipment and materials. Ground-disturbing activities associated with the Proposed Action may include, but are not limited to, grading, leveling, trenching and widening, lengthening, and/or resurfacing of trails, roads, and parking spaces. Table 1 provides a list of construction equipment that would be used for the implementation of the Proposed Action.
1.2.1 Campsites The Proposed Action would require the rehabilitation and replacement of the existing Dorabelle Campground campsites and associated parking spurs to protect sensitive biological and cultural resources, update campground facilities, and meet current accessibility standards. Following completion of the Proposed Action, Dorabelle Campground would have a total of 62 campsites, 12 of which would be designed as universally accessible sites (i.e., consistent with Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines (FSORAG) and Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Accessibility Standards (ABAAS). The 64 campsites would include: 60 single-capacity sites (10 universally accessible), including 2 host sites 4 double-capacity sites (2 universally accessible) Rehabilitation of the campsites would include the following specific actions: Retain 57 existing single-capacity sites Permanently remove 4 existing single-capacity sites Convert 4 single-capacity sites into 2 double-capacity sites Convert 2 single-capacity sites into 2 double-capacity sites Add 1 new single-capacity sites Campsite and parking spur removal would require the removal and disposal or off-site storage of existing tables, food storage containers, and fire rings. All material would be either disposed of at an approved refuse disposal site, or stored by USDA-FS in an existing storage facility. All campsites would be graded using earth-moving equipment (e.g., graders and excavators) to restore natural contours or to grade the site to meet accessibility standards and to better conform to existing topography. Rehabilitation of a single-capacity campsite would include development of a camp living area (approximately 25 feet wide and 18 feet long), tent pad area (approximately 16 feet wide and 16 feet long), and a parking spur (approximately 10 to 16 feet wide and 30 to 50 feet long). The new double-capacity campsites would include a camp living area (approximately 25 feet wide and 26 feet long), two tent pad areas (each approximately 16 feet wide and 16 feet long), and a parking spur (approximately 20 to 36 feet wide and 30 to 50 feet long). The rehabilitated campsite living areas would be composed of compacted aggregate and equipped with new universally accessible tables, bear-proof food storage containers, and fire rings. Tent areas would consist of compacted onsite soils. Parking spurs associated with each site would be paved with asphalt. Access routes to restrooms and parking facilities from the accessible campsites would comply with universally accessible slope and surface requirements. Additionally, the existing handrail along the edge of a granite outcropping near proposed campsite 38 would be removed and replaced with 130 linear feet of new steel railing.
1.2.2 Roads and Parking The Proposed Action would require reconstruction of the existing campground roads, entrance, and parking areas. The existing asphalt would be ground, graded and compacted to form the composite base for the new road. The new composite base would follow the existing road grade except for several areas that would require minimal re-grading to conform to current safety design criteria. The new asphalt roads will include a two-lane entrance road; six single-lane loop roads; and three pullouts. Under the Proposed Action the existing campground overflow parking area would be removed and a new paved overflow parking area with seven parking spaces would be developed in its location. 1.2.3 Restroom Facilities Under the Proposed Action, all of the existing 16 restroom facilities would be removed and replaced to meet current accessibility standards. Nine new vault toilet buildings would be constructed, each with two toilets, housing a total of 18 toilets. Prior to demolition and removal of the existing restroom facilities, each toilet vault would be pumped and waste materials removed from the site and disposed of by a permitted septage hauler. Each building would be demolished using an excavator. Materials would be loaded into a dump truck and disposed of at a USDA-FS approved location. Following demolition, the lid of the vault would be removed and disposed of at a facility qualified to accept hazardous waste. Exposed vault walls would then be collapsed. The hole left behind in the vault locations would be filled with on-site soils or imported fill, compacted in 12-inch lifts, and then re-vegetated with native plant species. After removal of the existing facilities, a total of nine new vault toilet buildings would be installed, each with two toilets. All of the new restroom facilities to be installed would be pre-fabricated concrete buildings. All buildings would meet current accessibility standards. Additionally, the existing holding tanks at both host sites would be removed and replaced. New holding tanks and sewer lines will be installed at both host sites. 1.2.4 Water Distribution System As a part of the Dorabelle Campground rehabilitation, the existing water distribution system and features within the campground would be abandoned in place, except where the contractor deems it necessary to remove old water lines for construction of new facilities. Under the Proposed Action approximately 6,000 linear feet of new two-inch piping would be installed for the water distribution system. New water pipe would be installed underneath the main campground road and loop roads except for a 222-foot-long section leading from the water tank to Loop A. Installation of the pipe would require digging trenches (e.g., using a trencher) approximately two and a half feet wide and
approximately two to three feet deep. After installation, any soil removed would be replaced and compacted. HDPE (3/4-inch) piping would be used for lateral connections from the main water lines to restroom facilities and water spigots. The water system would also include ball valves and drain valves throughout the system as necessary. New water spigots, consisting of stand-alone spigots and spigots adjacent to restroom facilities, would be installed throughout the facility. A gravel drain would be constructed at the base, and filled with soil and gravel. A pipe and water faucet would be attached to posts and to a concrete bowl that would channel the water and allow it to leach into the gravel drain. 1.2.5 Electrical System Under the Proposed Action, a new power pole and primary pole riser connecting to existing overhead electrical lines would be installed between proposed campsites 13 and 16 and would lead to a new main switchboard. From this point, the existing overhead electrical system would be removed and the new power line would be installed underground to the new vault toilet buildings, main entrance building, and campground host sites. Installation of the system would require digging trenches (e.g., using a trencher) approximately two and a half feet wide and approximately two to three feet deep. After installation, any soil removed would be replaced and compacted. 1.2.6 Trash Enclosures Under the Proposed Action, the seven existing trash enclosures would be removed. The wooden enclosures around the trash bins would be demolished, and the concrete slab would be broken up and removed. New trash enclosures would be constructed, each consisting of a 10-foot by 12-foot concrete slab with a 5-foot-high wooden enclosure along three sides. 1.2.7 Storm Water Drainage and Culverts Existing culverts and associated riprap would be removed during the campground road reconstruction process, and would be replaced with corrugated metal pipe culverts and/or concrete valley gutters. The new culverts would be similar in size to the existing culverts, ranging from 12 to 36 inches in diameter. Topsoil excavated during the culvert replacements would be stockpiled and covered with plastic to prevent contamination with noxious weeds. Following installation of the culvert, the topsoil would be replaced to restore the original slope and grade of the drainages and adjacent wetland areas. Rock energy dissipaters and rock-lined ditches would be installed, as necessary, on the upstream and downstream sides of culverts and concrete valley gutters to reduce erosion and to guide storm water away from roads and campsites. 1.2.8 Gates Under the Proposed Action, the existing entrance gate will be replaced with a new double-arm gate similar in style to the existing gate. The gate would be replaced in a
similar location and would provide a similar function of restricting vehicle access to the campground. 1.2.9 Trails Under the Proposed Action, several undeveloped trails leading from the parking area to the campground and Shaver Lake would be removed or upgraded to meet current FSORAG guidelines. The upgraded trails would be approximately 5 feet wide and consist of a hardened aggregate base. Any remaining undeveloped trails would be allowed to return to their native condition. 1.2.10 Signage New signage would be installed within the campground for the purpose of directing traffic around the campground road loops. In addition, new entrance signage, accessibility signs, and campsite signs would also be installed to replace or supplement the existing signage. Signs would be constructed from suitable materials (i.e., wood, metal, or recycled plastic) in accordance with all state and federal specifications. 1.2.11 Tree Removal and Forest Health Treatment The Proposed Action includes removal of trees to allow for the rehabilitation of roads and campsites that are realigned. In addition, forest health treatments are also included to address any impacts of construction-related activities on forest health and reduce the likelihood of tree stress, catastrophic forest fire, or insect invasion, while preserving or enhancing the campground s scenic character and the recreation setting. The treatments would strive for an open, park-like tree stand dominated by medium and large pine and fir trees. 1.2.12 Proposed Schedule The Proposed Action would be implemented May through November 2013. Forest health treatments would be implemented concurrently with the construction activities. The Proposed Action is expected to take approximately six to eight months to complete.